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Cancer related fatigue can be caused by many factors. It may be caused by the disease itself or by various treatments such as chemotherapy, radiotherapy or surgery.
Other factors which may be responsible for causing fatigue include pain, breathlessness, sleep disturbance, anaemia, level of activity,poor nutrition, infection and psychological factors such as depression and anxiety.
Your cancer treatment
Radiotherapy, chemotherapy and surgery can all make you feel tired, listless and fed up… but once you have recovered from your treatment, the fatigue should go away.
Anaemia
This means that you have fewer red blood cells than normal. Anaemia may be caused by blood loss, or a shortage of iron… or perhaps by the treatment you are having. If your anaemia is severe, special treatment may be possible – your doctor will discuss this with you. A blood transfusion is one way of treating anaemia.
Your emotional state
Feeling anxious, worried, depressed or sad can drain you of energy.You may also have times when you have difficulty concentrating and thinking clearly.
Poor Nutrition
If you lose your appetite during treatment you may not eat enough to give you the energy you need. This can make you tired, and you may lose weight.
Pain
Prolonged or constant pain can contribute to fatigue.
Maintaining a routine
Pushing yourself to maintain your old lifestyle, activities and routines may add to your fatigue.
