One of the most common complaints heard from people who are undergoing cancer treatment is fatigue. We're not talking about your garden-variety, late afternoon slump. The fatigue that some cancer patients experience is a bone-weary, crushing sense of extreme tiredness.
Fortunately, there are things you can do to lessen cancer-treatment fatigue; one of the most important is to eat the right foods. A few tips and tricks can help you get the most from the food you eat and improve your energy levels.
Nutrition Tips for Managing Fatigue
- Talk to your doctor about fatigue. If fatigue has a medical cause, such as anemia, you may need medications to rebuild your blood cells, which in turn, can improve your energy levels.
- Drink plenty of non-caffeinated fluids, because dehydration will make fatigue worse. Aim for a minimum of 8 cups (8 ounces per cup) of fluid each day, such as water, decaf or herbal tea, or 100% fruit juice. Avoid regular soft drinks, which are loaded with sugar. They may perk you up temporarily, but will make you more tired in the long run.
- If you are not losing weight, do not overeat for energy. This can cause unplanned weight gain. Believe it or not, many cancer patients struggle with too much weight gain, and carrying around extra weight will worsen fatigue.
- If you are eating because you're anxious, stressed, or depressed, all of which are common feelings after a cancer diagnosis, talk to your doctor or nurse about this. There are many options for better managing your emotional stress and mental health, but your health care provider can't help if he or she doesn't know you're struggling. Taking care of your mental health is a vital part of cancer care.
- If you are losing weight, eating frequently is a good idea. Have a small meal or snack every one to two hours to keep your weight and your energy up. Even if you don't feel like eating, you should make food a priority.
- Avoid sugary foods like candy, soda pop, cakes, donuts, baked goods, cookies, pies and other dessert foods. These foods may give a quick "energy boost," but you will feel worse once this wears off.
- Have protein, healthy fat, and/or a bit of fiber with each meal and snack. These nutrients will give you longer-lasting energy. As an example, you can have a piece of fruit plus a handful of walnuts, almonds, peanuts, or other nuts. Try fruit with cottage cheese or a handful of soy nuts, both of which provide protein and fiber.
Protein is particularly important, because your body needs it to rebuild your immune system and your blood cells. Good protein sources include lean beef, chicken, and turkey; egg whites; cottage cheese; canned fish, such as tuna or salmon; beans, nuts, and seeds; powdered milk, which can be added to casseroles, soups, stews, and mashed potatoes; tofu, tempeh, and soy nuts; and peanut and other nut butters.
- Ask your doctor or dietitian if you should take a basic multivitamin to make sure your nutrition needs are met. If you do use a multivitamin supplement, pick one that contains no more than 100% to 200% of the Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) of each nutrient. Do not take mega-dose vitamins, which can interfere with your cancer treatments.
Other Important Things About Fatigue
While not related to nutrition, it's helpful to know that there are a few other things you can do to keep fatigue under better control.
One of the most important ways to manage fatigue is to avoid a lot of napping. Cancer doctors who research fatigue have found that contrary to popular belief, napping does not improve cancer-treatment fatigue. In many cases, it makes it much worse. Try to stick to sleeping a bit longer at night, if needed, rather than napping a lot during the day.
It may sound counter-intuitive, but being physically active improves cancer fatigue. This doesn't mean you should run a marathon, but it does mean you should take a walk around the block if you can. Simple, moderate activity is proven to lessen cancer fatigue.
Finally, make sure you doctor is aware of the extent of any nausea you are experiencing (if any). Low-grade nausea can really lead to quite a bit of fatigue, particularly with daily oral therapies, such as Cytoxan or Xeloda.
When to Call Your Doctor About Fatigue
Fatigue can signal serious medical problems. Call your doctor if:
- you feel too tired to get out of bed for more than a day
- you are so tired that you feel confused, dizzy, lose your balance or fall
- you feel that you just cannot wake up
- you feel short of breath or as if you can't catch your breath
- you can't control symptoms that are contributing to fatigue, such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation or lack of appetite (there are medications to help manage these problems)
- you experience, anxiousness, nervousness, or depression
Sources
The American Cancer Society. Fatigue. Accessed September 30, 2009: http://www.cancer.org/docroot/MBC/content/MBC_6_2X_Fatigue.asp
Oncology Nutrition Dietetic Practice Group. The Clinical Guide to Oncology Nutrition, Second Edition, 2006. (Elliott L, Molseed LL, McCallum PD, Grant B, Eds.). American Dietetic Association: Chicago, IL.
