Fatigue may be acute or chronic. Acute fatigue is normal tiredness with occasional symptoms that begin quickly and last for a short time. Chronic fatigue is longer lasting. It can result from the cancer treatment, or from the spread of the cancer itself. It can become physically and even emotionally debilitating.
Fatigue can occur for many reasons.
It can be caused by anemia, nausea and vomiting, loss of appetite, decreased levels of hormones, medications, emotional distress, difficulty sleeping, pain and other factors. In the case of radiation, it may also be caused by the increased energy needed to repair damaged skin tissue. Treatments for fatigue can include certain medications to stimulate blood cell production, or psychostimulant drugs to improve emotional well being. Treatment for chronic fatigue that is related to anemia may include red blood cell transfusions. Beyond these, moderate exercise, sufficient rest, and simply setting priorities have been shown to result in significant improvements.