THE CYCLE OF FATIGUE

Fatigue is a common side effect of both radiation and chemotherapy. The way in which cancer therapy causes fatigue is not clearly understood. We do know that there are things you can do to help prevent or minimize fatigue. The sooner you take action to fight fatigue the better. Fatigue can become difficult to manage if it is prolonged.

One of the major causes of fatigue is inactivity. Both cancer and its treatment can cause you to become inactive. Being inactive causes fatigue in two ways. First, muscles become weak and actually shrink a little when they do not get enough exercise. Secondly, when you are inactive your body's engine becomes less efficient, so you get fewer "miles per gallon." When your body's engine becomes inefficient you have difficulty using your muscles even if they're strong.

Not feeling well and being inactive can lead to a cycle of fatigue. This cycle can become like a snowball with fatigue leading to more fatigue if left untreated. When people suffer from long-standing troublesome fatigue it is call "chronic fatigue." Chronic fatigue can interfere with your daily activities and may have an effect on your emotional condition if it prevents you from doing things that you enjoy. People with chronic fatigue find that sleeping makes their fatigue worse instead of better. They can also have difficulty concentrating and remembering things. The best way to fight fatigue is to keep it from snowballing.

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