Fatigue

Feeling very tired and lacking energy for day-to-day activities is a common side effect of radiation therapy to any area of the body. During treatment, your body uses a lot of energy dealing with the effects of radiation on normal cells. Fatigue can also be caused by travelling to daily treatment sessions and other appointments. It usually builds up slowly during the course of treatment, particularly towards the end, and may last for some weeks or months after treatment finishes. Many people find that they cannot do as much as they normally would, but others are able to continue their usual activities.

For more on this, see Fatigue and cancer.

Listen to our podcast on Managing Cancer Fatigue

How to manage fatigue

  • Listen to your body. If you feel tired, rest.
  • Try to spread activities out through the day.
  • Ask family and friends for help, e.g. with shopping, housework and driving.
  • Take a few weeks off work during or after treatment, reduce your hours, or work from home. Discuss your situation with your employer.
  • Do some regular exercise, such as walking. Moderate intensity exercise can boost energy levels and make you feel less tired. Talk to your treatment team about suitable activities for you.
  • Limit caffeinated drinks, such as cola, coffee and tea. While caffeine may give a burst of energy, it can make you feel jittery and irritable, and cause insomnia and dehydration.
  • Limit your alcohol intake. If you smoke, try to quit. For information and support, talk to your doctor, call the Quitline on 13 7848 or visit iCanQuit.
  • Eat a healthy, well-balanced diet, and don’t skip meals.
This information was last reviewed in December 2019. View who reviewed this content.

Dr Madhavi Chilkuri, Radiation Oncologist, Townsville Cancer Centre, The Townsville Hospital, and Dean, RANZCR Faculty of Radiation Oncology, QLD; Polly Baldwin, 13 11 20 Consultant, Cancer Council SA; Patricia Hanley, Consumer; Prof Michael Hofman, Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging Physician, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, VIC; Leanne Hoy, Cancer Nurse Consultant, GenesisCare, VIC; Sharon King, Accredited Practising Dietitian, TAS; Dr Yoo Young (Dominique) Lee, Radiation Oncology Consultant, Princess Alexandra Hospital, QLD; Dr Wendy Phillips, Senior Medical Physicist, Department of Radiation Oncology, Royal Adelaide Hospital, SA; Katrina Rech, Radiation Therapist and Quality Systems Manager, GenesisCare, SA. We also thank the health professionals, consumers and editorial teams who have worked on previous editions of this title.

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Fatigue and Cancer

This fact sheet has been prepared to help you understand more about fatigue, a common side effect of cancer and cancer treatments. We hope this fact sheet will help you, your family and friends understand what fatigue is and how it can be managed.

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