the fatigue you feel from having cancer and receiving radiation therapy can be overwhelming and keep you from doing the things you normally do such as going to work or spending time with family and friends. it's also unpredictable and can seem different from day to day which makes it hard to plan around it. it can even interfere with how well you're able to follow your cancer treatment plan. sometimes doctors can discover other causes for the fatigue. when they do the cause can be treated. there are things you can do to make fatigue less disabling: take care of your health. the level of fatigue you feel is often related to the condition of your health at the time of treatment. review with your doctor how well you are following your treatment plan not just for cancer but for other health conditions you may have. be sure you're taking your medications the way you're supposed to. get plenty of rest increase your level of physical activity and continue to eat a nutritious diet with plenty of protein. work with a counselor or take a class offered at your cancer treatment center to learn ways to conserve energy reduce stress and use distraction to not focus on the fatigue. prioritize your regular activities so you can do the ones that are most important to you first when you feel less fatigued. maintain a balance between rest and activities. too much bed rest can make you more fatigued. but don't over-schedule your activities without allowing time to rest. talk with your family and friends and ask for their help. if fatigue is interfering with your job discuss your situation with your employer and ask about taking some time off from work or making adjustments in your schedule. keep in mind that the fatigue related to radiation therapy will most likely be temporary and will pass several weeks after your radiation treatment ends.
what can i do about fatigue that results from radiation therapy?