SACT side effects: Fatigue
Fatigue is the feeling of having no energy and is a common side effect. Resting and sleeping may not help improve fatigue.
Advice to help with fatigue:
- Try gentle regular exercise
- Eat a well-balanced diet and drink plenty of fluids
- Avoid alcohol and caffeine
- Practice a regular sleeping pattern
- Avoid caffeine in the evenings
- Prioritise what you want to do each day, plan and pace yourself
- Rest when you need to
Call the Acute Haematology Oncology Unit (AHOU) if you are experiencing:
-
- Are unable to carry out your normal activities of daily living.
- You are spending more time in bed.
- Feel drowsy or more sleepy than normal.
- Have fatigue and also feel short of breath, feel your heart racing or appear pale. These are signs that your blood levels may be low and therefore causing you to feel tired.
- You are concerned about fatigue
For more information on fatigue
Maggies
Fatigue, tiredness and cancer | Maggie's (maggies.org)
Macmillan
Macmillan: Tiredness (fatigue)
The Macmillan next steps cancer rehabilitation team can offer fatigue management advice if you are being treated for colorectal, breast, gynaecological, prostate, haematological, lung, upper GI or head and neck cancer.
Videos on fatigue
To help you understand how to manage fatigue, there is a series of short videos you can watch.