It is common to feel tired and lack energy during and after treatment, particularly if you’ve had both radiation therapy and chemotherapy. The tiredness may continue for several months, or even a year or two, after treatment has finished.
Feeling tired is not only a side effect of the treatment itself. Travelling to hospitals and clinics for treatment can be exhausting. If you work during your treatment or if you have a family to care for, this can make you feel especially tired.
It may be frustrating if other people don’t understand how you’re feeling. See more information about support services that can assist you.
For more on this, see Fatigue and cancer and Living well after cancer.
Tips for managing fatigue
- Gentle exercise during and after treatment has been shown to boost energy levels and reduce fatigue. Ask your doctor about the amount and type of exercise that is right for you.
- Plan your day. Do things at the time of day when you have more energy.
- Rest regularly. Keep a journal to track your “good times” and pace your activities so you manage your energy over the day.
- Talk with your family and friends about how you’re feeling and discuss things they can help you with (e.g. housework and shopping).
- Limit daytime naps to 30 minutes so you don’t have trouble sleeping at night.
- Don’t expect to be able to instantly do everything you used to do. Your body is still recovering and it will take some time for your energy levels to return.
Podcast: Managing Cancer Fatigue
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Prof Martin Oehler, Director of Gynaecological Oncology, Royal Adelaide Hospital, and Clinical Professor, University of Adelaide, SA; Dawn Bedwell, 13 11 20 Consultant, Cancer Council QLD; Gemma Busuttil, Radiation Therapist, Crown Princess Mary Cancer Centre, Westmead Hospital, NSW; Dr Antonia Jones, Gynaecological Oncologist, The Royal Women’s Hospital and Mercy Hospital for Women, VIC; Angela Keating, Senior Psychologist, Royal Hospital for Women, NSW; Anne Mellon, Clinical Nurse Consultant – Gynaecological Oncology, Hunter New England Centre for Gynaecological Cancer, NSW; Dr Inger Olesen, Medical Oncologist, Andrew Love Cancer Centre, Barwon Health, Geelong, VIC; Dr Serena Sia, Radiation Oncologist, Fiona Stanley Hospital and King Edward Memorial Hospital, WA; A/Prof Megan Smith, Co-lead, Cervical Cancer and HPV Stream, The Daffodil Centre, Cancer Council NSW and The University of Sydney, NSW; Emily Stevens, Gynaecology Oncology Nurse Coordinator, Southern Adelaide Local Health Network, Flinders Medical Centre, SA; Melissa Whalen, Consumer.
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