Get some rest Fatigue is the most common side effect experienced by cancer patients, especially those undergoing chemotherapy. So, get plenty of rest and avoid pushing yourself too hard, even if you feel good.
Good night's rest
A full night's sleep is vital for anyone who has had chemotherapy. Patients should get at least eight hours of sleep if possible.
Cancer tiredness is one of the most common side effects of cancer treatment. It affects between 15 and 90 out of every 100 people (15 to 90%). Tiredness in advanced cancer affects around 75 out of every 100 people (75%). Some people taking cancer drugs say severe tiredness is the most disruptive side effect.
Short, planned delays in chemotherapy for good-risk GCT patients (less than or equal to 7 days per cycle) appear to be acceptable since they may prevent serious toxicity in this curable patient population. Delays of longer than 7 days are strongly discouraged except in extraordinary life-threatening circumstances.
As any cancer warrior knows, rest is critical during active treatment—and its importance extends to your workout routine, too. Simply put, rest supports the benefits of physical activity and brings us closer to the goal of health: feeling good.
Exercise causes your body to release proteins called myokines into your blood. These proteins are known to help your immune system fight and even kill cancer cells, raising the possibility that exercise, in combination with immunotherapy, can help treat cancer.
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.
Water, water, water: we know it can be difficult, but please drink plenty of water before, during and after chemo treatment. Drinking lots of water will help to flush the chemo through your system, and can also help to keep your bladder from becoming irritated.
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.
For most people the side effects were worst in the first few days after treatment, then they gradually felt better until the next treatment. Some said the effects were worse with each successive treatment. Most side effects don't persist and disappear within a few weeks after the end of treatment.
Chemotherapy. You may feel most worn out for a few days after each chemo treatment. Your fatigue may get worse with each treatment. For some people, fatigue is worst about halfway through the full course of chemo.
A return to normalcy is typical, but it takes a while – usually six months or so. “All who have done chemo do finally get back to normal,” Patricia said. “Treatment for breast cancer can take a whole year, but six months after it ends, life comes back – incisions heal, hair grows back, chemo brain fog lifts.”
Fatigue can affect you suddenly and it doesn't always go away with rest or sleep. For some people, it may be hard to do everyday things, creating feelings of frustration and isolation. Fatigue caused by chemotherapy may last for some weeks or months after a treatment cycle ends.
Walking is a safe way to improve general fitness and health
For most people living with and beyond cancer, exercise recommendations are the same as the general population: 150 minutes of moderate exercise each week.
Include beverages with calories such as juice, milk, decaf tea with honey and oral nutrition supplements (Boost, Ensure). If having diarrhea, trial G2 (Gatorade 2) or pedialyte to replace electrolytes.
Eat Light Ahead of Time
Two to three hours before an infusion, eat a light, high-fiber snack. The drugs commonly used to prevent nausea and vomiting due to chemotherapy can also be constipating. Between staying hydrated and eating fiber, you should gain the upper hand on constipation.
Choose light materials so if you sweat, you won't feel sticky. Wear a low neck or V-neck shirt so nurses can easily place ports to administer the chemo, and bring an extra shirt in case you sweat through the first. Bring a light sweater in case you become cold. Having something to cover your head can also be helpful.
One week post-chemo! "They" say that's one of the toughest weeks. The one right after chemo, especially your first round. It's a week of figuring out how your body will respond after the infusions, and it's different for every person.
Many people feel that hair loss is one of the most difficult aspects of chemotherapy treatment. Not all chemotherapy drugs cause hair loss, so talk to your physician or nurse about what to expect. Most often, hair loss begins about two to three weeks after starting chemotherapy.
Official answer. Doxorubicin is considered one of the strongest chemotherapy drugs for breast cancer ever invented.
Why not slather on some sunscreen and take a walk? Walking, after all, can be a great way to get the daily activity your body needs to fight off cancer. Walking also can help you maintain a healthy body weight. For women, walking lowers hormone levels that increase the risk for breast and endometrial cancers.
Building an exercise routine during cancer treatment
The guidelines recommend regular aerobic exercise – such as walking, jogging or cycling, and strength training – such as lifting weights or using resistance bands, for patients whose cancer has not spread beyond its initial site.
How much exercise? Up to 1 hour of moderate activity daily or 30 minutes of vigorous activity is recommended to cut your cancer risk. 'Moderate intensity activity' is anything causing a slight but noticeable increase in breathing and heart rate (like brisk walking, mowing the lawn, medium-paced swimming or cycling).