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.
You might feel the most tired when your blood cells are at their lowest (nadir). This is usually 7 to 14 days after treatment. When the chemotherapy ends, the blood cell levels gradually go back to normal over a few weeks.
Chemotherapy, radiation therapy, surgery, bone marrow transplantation and immunotherapy may all cause fatigue. You may experience fatigue if cancer treatment damages healthy cells in addition to the cancer cells. Or fatigue might happen as your body works to repair damage caused by treatment.
Don't plan your chemo response until you've gone through your first infusion. The effects of chemo are cumulative. They get worse with each cycle.
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.
Doxorubicin is considered one of the strongest chemotherapy drugs for breast cancer 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, not just breast cancer. Doxorubicin is also known as “The Red Devil” because it is a clear bright red color.
Decaffeinated tea, juices and milk can also help. If you're having trouble consuming enough liquids or staying hydrated, talk to your care team. Chemotherapy can cause nausea and appetite loss, so it's important to eat when you can to avoid becoming malnourished.
Some of the best foods to eat during chemotherapy or other cancer treatments are plant-based proteins. They offer the highest levels of vitamins and minerals, Rajagopal says. This means eating lots of vegetables as well as beans, legumes, nuts and seeds.
During cancer treatment, the need for sleep may increase some, as the body repairs itself. Most people need from 7-9 hours of sleep. The need for sleep does not decrease as we age, as popular myths proclaim. It is important for you to talk with your doctor about your sleep concerns.
If you've undergone chemotherapy or radiation treatments, your body has toxins that need to be eliminated. Resting will help the body cast off these unwanted byproducts but without adequate rest, the body will suffer. Rest is vital to recovery. Remember to take time for yourself.
Plan to get at least seven hours of sleep every night. To optimize your chances at getting good sleep, practice healthy sleep habits: Avoid caffeine for at least eight hours before bedtime. Stick to a regular sleep schedule.
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.
Most people say it takes 6 to 12 months after they finish chemotherapy before they truly feel like themselves again. Read the resource Managing Cognitive Changes for more information about managing chemo brain.
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.
Chemotherapy can be dehydrating. Drinking plenty of water before and after treatment helps your body process chemotherapy drugs and flush the excess out of your system.
You might notice an improvement in cancer symptoms, such as less pain, reduced lymph node swelling, and improved energy levels. If you use topical chemotherapy on skin lesions, the area might feel irritated and look red and swollen for the first few weeks. These are all signs that chemotherapy is working.
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.
The chemotherapy (“chemo”) drug “The Red Devil” is doxorubicin (Adriamycin).
Ask any Cancer patient, chemotherapy is one of the hardest parts of treatment. It is a lifesaving medicine that pretty much makes you feel like you have a combination of flu and a bad hangover without any of the fun.