“The most important part of cancer treatment is the management of fatigue that develops due to the disease and/or chemotherapy. "Small walks and light exercises increase the energy levels of most people suffering from this disease."
Weakness; It is the most common side effect of cancer treatment consisting of chemotherapy, radiotherapy, biological treatments, stem cell transplantation and surgery. In addition to these treatments, anemia, pain, medications and emotional state may cause fatigue or worsen existing weakness.
. When describing cancer-related fatigue, patients say "I am extremely tired", "I am extremely weak", "heaviness on me". They use sentences to describe this situation, such as "and I feel sleepy", "I'm exhausted", "I'm getting worse", "I have no energy left". The first thing that comes to the mind of a patient or his/her relative in this situation is rest to relieve fatigue. The patient is advised not to get out of bed and to rest. However, rest does not always help cancer-related fatigue. Cancer and chemotherapy-related fatigue is one of the most important side effects that most patients have difficulty coping with.
If you feel extremely weak, cannot do your normal daily activities, or still complain of fatigue after sleeping or resting, be sure to see your doctor. or share with the healthcare team. Because there may be more than one reason for this fatigue. Be sure to take note of how your fatigue affects your daily activities and which activities or situations you do improve or worsen your fatigue.
How can I manage my fatigue?
Following the suggestions below will help you. It may make you feel better:
-
Make a daily plan that balances rest and activity: Choose activities that will relax you. Most people prefer to listen to music, read, meditate, paint or spend time with people they like. Relaxing activities help you maintain your energy and reduce stress. You can also perform light exercises recommended by your doctor to have more energy and feel better.
-
Plan your time for rest: If you feel tired If you feel like it, you can sleep for less than 1 hour, which can be described as a “nap” or “nap” during the day. The thing that should not be forgotten is that if the sleep time during the day is too long, there will be difficulty in sleeping at night and this will leave the person weak and unhappy. Prioritize the daily activities that are most important to you and do them when your energy is at its best. Be sure to consult your doctor, who monitors your basic needs such as "eating" and activities that require attention such as "driving".
-
Try to eat well and consume plenty of fluids:
-
Try to eat well and drink plenty of fluids: strong> Consult your dietitian or doctor for foods and drinks that will increase your energy. Foods high in protein and calories help increase your energy levels. Eating fewer but more frequent meals instead of three meals can make you feel more energetic. Drink plenty of fluids. Avoid alcohol and caffeine.
Share your problems with your doctor: Sharing not only your physical complaints with your doctor, but also your psychological problems related to the disease will be beneficial for you to be guided correctly. . Sharing your thoughts and feelings that are difficult for you to bear makes it easier for you to cope with them. If necessary, your physician can refer you to a specialist on these issues. Reducing your sadness and stress will make you more energetic. Again, since uncontrolled pain can leave you weak, if it does not improve with current medications, you can get help from a palliative pain care specialist on this issue with the recommendation of your physician
Read: 0
