F A T I G U E

Fatigue is extreme exhaustion and tiredness and is the most common problem which people with cancer experience. In fact, more than half of all patients experience fatigue during chemotherapy or radiation therapy, and up to 70% of people with advanced cancer experience this side effect. There are people who, sometimes years ago, were treated against cancer, and have a daily suffer from tiredness. This gives besides the physical problems, physical, relational and social suspense. Not only the patient has trouble with this, but also the family, friends and doctors don't really know what they have to do with it.

Cause

We don't know a lot about what causes tiredness after cancer. What we do know is that about 50% of all cancer patients suffer from it. Moreover we know that this tiredness is common by different types of cancer, and different kind of treatments. In some cases the tiredness is caused by anaemia resulted after an operation. This anaemia is most of the time of a temporary nature and this can be treated with medicines.

Tips

If there is no clear physical cause of the tiredness, the advice will be ‘You will have to learn to live with it.'
You can read beneath some tips or remarks:

• Tiredness is a part of your life. Take this in account.
• Try to stop resisting it. This takes a lot of energy.
• Plan your activities and take time for breaks.
• Don't be too strict for yourself; nice, exciting activities are possible.
• Be as clear as possible to the people arround you. Tell them what you can and can't do.