Lung Cancer – Treating Fatigue

Transcript

Fatigue is one of the most difficult symptoms to treat and it’s usually the one that lasts the longest, usually 2-4 weeks after radiation treatment has stopped. To treat fatigue, one of the key strategies is to learn to budget your energy, staying as physically active as possible. Maintaining a good hydration and nutrition will help recalibrate your level of energy while the body recovers from the trauma of radiation. Exposure to natural light, breathing exercises, and a restful night sleep are simple things that have a significant impact on our quality of life and decrease the level of fatigue. Short term use of medications, such as steroids and stimulants can take you over the hump until your energy level returns. Your palliative care team can make additional recommendations on what to do depending on your individual needs.