| Fatigue & cancer treatment | How do people cope? | Tips for managing daily activities |
| Is rest always best? |
When should I speak to the doctor or nurse?
When will the fatigue get better?
Further information about cancer treatment-related fatigue
Friends and family may advise you to ‘take it easy' and ‘get plenty of rest'. But staying in bed for a long time can cause you to feel even more tired. If you rest for a long time, your muscles will weaken and you will find it harder to be active when you want to. So being as active as you can, without worsening the fatigue, is your best approach.
Talk to your doctor or nurse about how much bed rest and exercise they would recommend. Other people may not understand that rest does not make your fatigue go away. It may help to explain to them how this fatigue is different from normal tiredness.
Speak to your doctor before beginning an exercise program. Discuss other ways of managing the fatigue and living as normal a life as possible. Tell your doctor or nurse if:
You may find that the fatigue begins to lift when your cancer treatment ends. However, some people are fatigued for some time after treatment ends. Sometimes the fatigue will lift, then return again.
You may need to be patient if your recovery is not as fast as you wish. If your fatigue is worrying you, talk to your doctor or nurse. They may be able to estimate how long the fatigue could last.
For more information contact the Cancer Council Helpline on 13 11 20 (cost of a local call). This is a confidential service staffed by cancer nurses. Information is available in languages other than English.
