Why fatigue after radiation

Questions about cancer? Call freephone 9 to 5 Monday to Friday or email us. Skip to main content. Home About cancer General cancer information Treatment for cancer Radiotherapy Radiotherapy side effects General radiotherapy side effects Tiredness. You might feel tired during your radiotherapy treatment. This could be because: of having cancer your body is using energy to repair damage to healthy cells from the radiation you're in pain you're having to travel quite a way for your radiotherapy appointments you're feeling anxious and stressed - this might affect the quality of your sleep at night Radiotherapy side effects tend to get worse as you progress through your treatment.

It's impossible to predict who will feel tired during treatment, some do and others don't. Tips for boosting or saving energy Taking shortcuts on some things or getting help from other people can help you to feel less tired. If you're feeling very tired there are some things you can do to help depending on your circumstances: Drink plenty of water.

Eat a balanced diet. Have short naps if you need to. If you're working, see if you can reduce your hours or work from home if possible. Your doctor will likely conduct a physical exam and further evaluate your medical history, the type or types of treatment you are receiving or have received, and any medications you're taking. He or she may recommend tests, such as blood tests or X-rays, specific to your condition.

Because cancer-related fatigue may be caused by many factors, your doctor may suggest more than one method to reduce and cope with your symptoms. These may include self-care methods and, in certain cases, medications or medical procedures. Medications may be available to treat the underlying cause of your fatigue. For instance, if your fatigue is the result of anemia, blood transfusions may help. Medications that stimulate your bone marrow to produce more red blood cells might be another option.

If you're depressed, your doctor might suggest medications that can help reduce the depression, increase appetite and improve your sense of well-being. Improving your ability to sleep can help relieve fatigue.

Sometimes medication can be effective in helping you sleep. Adequate pain management can go a long way in decreasing fatigue, but certain pain medications can make fatigue worse, so work with your doctor to achieve the appropriate balance. Get moving. Moderate exercise, such as brisk walking, riding a bike and swimming, throughout the week may help you preserve your energy level.

Exercise regularly as you start treatment. You'll get in the routine of exercising, and it may even help you prevent fatigue during treatment. If you haven't exercised much lately, check with your doctor before you begin to make sure it's safe. Then, start slow and work your way up to at least minutes of exercise a week — or a half-hour of exercise on five days each week. Try to add strength training, such as lifting weights, a few times a week, too. Don't assume the fatigue you're experiencing is just part of the cancer experience.

If it's frustrating you or affecting your ability to go about your day, it's time to talk with your doctor. There is a problem with information submitted for this request. Sign up for free, and stay up-to-date on research advancements, health tips and current health topics, like COVID, plus expert advice on managing your health.

Error Email field is required. Your local American Cancer Society office may be able to help you get wigs or hats. These blood cells help your body fight infection and prevent bleeding. If your blood tests show low blood counts, your treatment might be stopped for a week or so to allow your blood counts to return to normal.

People with brain tumors often get stereotactic radiosurgery radiation given in one large dose if the cancer is in only one or a few sites in the brain. Side effects depend on where the radiation is aimed. Some side effects might show up quickly, but others might not show up until 1 to 2 years after treatment.

Talk with your radiation oncologist about what to watch for and when to call your doctor. If the cancer is in many areas, sometimes the whole brain is treated with radiation. The side effects of whole brain radiation therapy may not be noticeable until a few weeks after treatment begins.

Some of these side effects can happen because radiation has caused the brain to swell. Treatment can affect each person differently, and you may not have these particular side effects. Radiation to the brain can also have side effects that show up later — usually from 6 months to many years after treatment ends.

These delayed effects can include serious problems such as memory loss, stroke-like symptoms, and poor brain function. You may also have an increased risk of having another tumor in the area, although this is not common. If you get radiation therapy to the head or neck, you need to take good care of your teeth, gums, mouth, and throat. Here are some tips that may help you manage mouth problems:. If these measures are not enough, ask your cancer care team for advice.

Mouth dryness may be a problem even after treatment is over. If so, talk to your team about what you can do. Radiation treatment to your head and neck can increase your chances of getting cavities. This is especially true if you have dry mouth as a result of treatment. Before starting radiation, talk to your cancer care team about whether you should get a complete check-up with your dentist.

Ask your dentist to talk with your radiation doctor before you start treatment. If you have one or more problem teeth, your dentist may suggest removing them before you start treatment. If you wear dentures, they may no longer fit well because of swollen gums. If your dentures cause sores, you may need to stop wearing them until your radiation therapy is done to keep sores from getting infected. Your dentist may want to see you during your radiation therapy to check your teeth, talk to you about caring for your mouth and teeth, and help you deal with any problems.

Most likely, you will be told to:. If you have radiation to the breast , it can affect your heart or lungs as well causing other side effects. To avoid irritating the skin around the breast, women should try to go without wearing a bra whenever they can. If your shoulders feel stiff, ask your cancer care team about exercises to keep your shoulder moving freely. Breast soreness, color changes, and fluid build-up lymphedema will most likely go away a month or 2 after you finish radiation therapy.

If fluid build-up continues to be a problem, ask your cancer care team what steps you can take. See Lymphedema for more information. Radiation therapy may cause long-term changes in the breast. NCI Congressional Justification. Current Congress. Committees of Interest. Legislative Resources. Recent Public Laws. Search Search. Cancer Treatment. Biomarker Testing. Cancer Treatment Vaccines. Checkpoint Inhibitors.

Immune System Modulators. Side Effects. Monoclonal Antibodies. T-cell Transfer Therapy. Photodynamic Therapy. Radiation Therapy. External Beam Radiation. Stem Cell Transplant. Targeted Therapy. Steps to Find a Clinical Trial. Help With Clinical Trials Search. What Are Clinical Trials? Where Trials Take Place. Types of Clinical Trials. Phases of Clinical Trials. Use of Placebos.

Research Team Members. Paying for Clinical Trials. Insurance Coverage and Clinical Trials. Federal Government Programs. Patient Safety. Informed Consent. Children's Assent. Scientific Review. Ending Trials Early. Deciding to Take Part in a Trial. Questions to Ask about Treatment Clinical Trials.

Drugs Approved for Different Types of Cancer. Drugs Approved for Childhood Cancers. Drugs Approved for Conditions Related to Cancer. Access to Experimental Drugs. Key Points Fatigue is the most common side effect of cancer treatment. Cancer fatigue is different from fatigue that healthy people feel. Fatigue can decrease your quality of life. Key Points Fatigue in people with cancer may have more than one cause.

It is not clear how cancer treatments cause fatigue. Fatigue related to surgery Fatigue caused by chemotherapy Fatigue caused by radiation therapy Fatigue caused by hormone therapy Fatigue caused by immunotherapy Anemia is a common cause of fatigue. Nutrition needs change and cause or increase fatigue. Anxiety and depression are the most common psychological causes of fatigue in people with cancer. Fatigue and memory problems may be related.

Not sleeping well causes fatigue. Medicines other than chemotherapy may add to fatigue. Cancer treatment. Receiving more than one type of treatment for example, both chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Anemia a lower than normal number of red blood cells.

Hormone levels that are too low or too high. Trouble breathing or getting enough oxygen. Pain and other symptoms. Problems getting enough sleep. Loss of appetite or not getting enough calories and nutrients. Dehydration loss of too much water from the body, such as from severe diarrhea or vomiting. Changes in how well the body uses food for energy. Medicines that cause drowsiness.

Not being active. Being overweight. Tumors in certain parts of the body. Other medical conditions. Having fatigue before cancer treatment begins. Lack of sleep caused by some anticancer drugs. Cancer treatments. A medical condition not related to the cancer. A change in the way the body uses food. A patient may eat the same amount as before having cancer, but the body may not be able to absorb and use all the nutrients from the food.

This is caused by the cancer or its treatment. An increase in the amount of energy needed by the body because of a growing tumor, infection, fever, or shortness of breath. A decrease in the amount of food eaten because of low appetite, nausea , vomiting, diarrhea, or a blocked bowel.

Lack of energy and mental alertness. Loss of interest in life. Problems thinking. Feeling a loss of hope. Waking up during the night. Going to sleep at different times every night. Sleeping during the day and less at night. Being inactive during the day. The time of day that cancer treatment is given. Key Points A physical exam and health history will be taken to look for causes of fatigue that can be treated. Your healthcare team will continue to look for patterns of fatigue.

Complete blood count CBC with differential : A procedure in which a sample of blood is taken and checked for the following: The number of red blood cells and platelets. The number and type of white blood cells. The amount of hemoglobin the protein that carries oxygen in the red blood cells. The portion of the blood sample made up of red blood cells. The level of fatigue: You will be asked to rate the level of fatigue.

The doctor may ask you to rate the fatigue on a scale from 0 to When the fatigue started, how long it lasts, and what makes it better or worse. Symptoms or side effects , such as hot flashes , that you are having from the cancer or the treatments. Medicines being taken. Sleeping and resting habits. Eating habits and changes in appetite or weight. How the fatigue affects daily activities and lifestyle.

How the fatigue affects being able to work. Whether you have depression , anxiety , or pain. Health habits and past illnesses and treatments.

Key Points Fatigue is often treated by relieving related conditions.