How do you beat chemo fatigue?

Exercise, yoga, massage therapy, counseling, and dietary or nutritional counseling are all used to help treat fatigue and weakness. If you're having problems sleeping or sleeping too much, your doctor or nurse may suggest sleep therapy.
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How long does it take for fatigue to go away after chemo?

Fatigue usually lasts from three to four weeks after treatment stops, but can continue for up to two to three months. Combination therapy. More than one cancer treatment at the same time or one after the other increases the chances of developing fatigue.
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How can I boost my energy during chemo?

  1. Talk it out. Anxiety, fear, and hopelessness can add to fatigue as well. A therapist can help you let out some of those feelings. ...
  2. Drink enough liquids. Dehydration can make you tired and confused. Keep a bottle of water close and sip often. ...
  3. Snack throughout the day. You need calories to keep up your strength.
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How long does cancer treatment fatigue last?

Cancer fatigue usually lasts from 3-4 weeks after treatment stops, but can continue for up to 2-3 months.
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What does chemo fatigue feel like?

Feeling very tired and lacking energy (fatigue) is the most common side effect of chemotherapy. You may have muscle aches and pains, get worn out quickly, have difficulty concentrating or find it difficult to do daily activities. Fatigue can appear suddenly and it doesn't always go away with rest or sleep.
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Chemotherapy: What can I do to combat fatigue? | Norton Cancer Institute



What is the best vitamin for cancer patients?

Vitamin D is one of the most studied supplements for cancer prevention and treatment right now. Vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin E , and beta-carotene contain antioxidants once thought to help prevent cancer.
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What foods give you energy after chemo?

Power snacks.

Eating small meals or a snack every three to four hours will help keep your energy level constant. Try 1/4 cup of nuts or seeds, whole grain crackers topped with 2 teaspoons of peanut butter, or 2 tablespoons of hummus as a dip with baby carrots to boost energy.
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How many days after chemo do you start feeling better?

Most people say it takes 6 to 12 months after they finish chemotherapy before they truly feel like themselves again.
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Does chemo get harder with each treatment?

The effects of chemo are cumulative. They get worse with each cycle. My doctors warned me: Each infusion will get harder. Each cycle, expect to feel weaker.
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How do I get my energy back?

9 Ways to Get Your Energy Back
  1. Rule out health problems. Fatigue is a common symptom of many illnesses, including diabetes, heart disease, arthritis, anemia, thyroid disease, and sleep apnea. ...
  2. Get moving. ...
  3. Strike a pose. ...
  4. Drink plenty of water. ...
  5. Get to bed early. ...
  6. Go fish. ...
  7. Keep time with your body clock. ...
  8. Shed extra weight.
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How do I get my strength back after chemo?

With your doctor's approval, start slowly and work your way up. The American Cancer Society recommends adult cancer survivors exercise for at least 150 minutes a week, including strength training at least two days a week. As you recover and adjust, you might find that more exercise makes you feel even better.
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Which is harder on the body chemo or radiation?

Since radiation therapy is focused on one area of your body, you may experience fewer side effects than with chemotherapy. However, it may still affect healthy cells in your body.
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What is the hardest chemo?

Doxorubicin (Adriamycin) is one of the most powerful chemotherapy drugs ever invented. It can kill cancer cells at every point in their life cycle, and it's used to treat a wide variety of cancers. Unfortunately, the drug can also damage heart cells, so a patient can't take it indefinitely.
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When are chemo side effects the worst?

Blood cell counts often reach their lowest level about 7 to 14 days after chemotherapy. Low blood cell counts is the most common and most serious side effect of chemotherapy. When it happens, the dose of chemotherapy is adjusted right away or chemotherapy may have to be stopped temporarily.
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Is second round of chemo worse than first?

Overall, my second round of chemo went much better than the first... thanks to an adjustment Dr. Soule made based on my round one experience (she extended my steroid to be taken for three days after chemo, instead of just one, though with smaller doses on each day).
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What should you not do after chemo?

9 things to avoid during chemotherapy treatment
  • Contact with body fluids after treatment. ...
  • Overextending yourself. ...
  • Infections. ...
  • Large meals. ...
  • Raw or undercooked foods. ...
  • Hard, acidic, or spicy foods. ...
  • Frequent or heavy alcohol consumption. ...
  • Smoking.
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How can I minimize the side effects of chemotherapy?

How to Manage the Side Effects of Chemotherapy
  1. Counter Chemo-Induced Fatigue With Exercise. ...
  2. Take Medication to Quell Nausea and Vomiting. ...
  3. Consider Using a Cooling Cap to Minimize Hair Loss. ...
  4. Beat Mouth Sores With Ice Chips. ...
  5. Wash Your Hands Often to Avoid Infection. ...
  6. Tell Your Doctor About Tingling in Your Hands or Feet.
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How many rounds of chemo is normal?

During a course of treatment, you usually have around 4 to 8 cycles of treatment. A cycle is the time between one round of treatment until the start of the next. After each round of treatment you have a break, to allow your body to recover.
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Why can't chemo patients have ice?

You are being treated for cancer with a chemotherapy medication called Oxaliplatin. This medication has an unusual side effect called “cold dysesthesia”. This means that different parts of your body may be very sensitive to cold – cold drinks, cold food, and cool or cold outdoor temperatures.
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What drinks are good for chemo patients?

Drink beverages such as diluted fruit juice, milk, buttermilk, lemonade, ginger ale or sports drinks. Choose desserts that aren't as sweet, such as yogurt, custard, pumpkin pie, fruit, baked fruit, fruit with cottage cheese, fruit crumble, plain doughnuts, or graham crackers.
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Is Cranberry Juice Good for chemo patients?

This means increased chemotherapy dosage -- and increased toxicity to patients. The researchers note that compounds isolated from cranberries kill human ovary, brain, and prostate cells in laboratory studies. This anticancer activity seems to come from a family of chemicals called proanthocyanidins (PACs).
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Can I take vitamin D while on chemotherapy?

As many cancer patients will confirm, the chemotherapy prescribed to kill the disease is often more debilitating than the cancer itself, with a range of horrendous side effects.
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Should you take a multivitamin during chemo?

Many practitioners recommend stopping any high dose supplements during the time you are receiving chemotherapy or radiation therapy. Take supplements with food unless specifically instructed otherwise. Doing so assists with absorption, since multivitamins, as a rule, work better when taken with food.
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Can I drink coffee during chemotherapy?

Avoid caffeine as it acts as a diuretic and draws water out of your cells, causing you to urinate more fluid than you are consuming. Stay away from strong smelling foods to avoid aggravating any disorders of taste. Avoid fatty fried, spicy and overly sweet foods, as they may induce nausea.
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Which chemo is worse AC or Taxol?

AC was worse for me

I had 4 rounds every 2 weeks of AC and 12 weekly of taxol. The AC made me nauseas and taxol did not. I was actually able to go back to work when I started the taxol. I could not work through the AC, the nausea was hard on me but I never vomited.
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