(gentle piano music) - Hi, my name is Vienafe Jornadal-Recinto with Nashville General Hospital.

On today's "For Your Good Health", we are going to talk about cancer treatment and fatigue.

Fatigue is extreme exhaustion, and that's what most people do not realize that fatigue in cancer, especially in patients getting treatment, is so severe that the patient is almost incapacitated to do any activity.

Fatigue issue is really caused by any cancer treatment, be that chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or immunotherapy.

So chemotherapy can affect the patient's blood count.

The blood is not able to carry enough oxygen.

It's the same with radiation therapy.

It kills the red blood cells that carries the oxygen.

Immunotherapy also works in a way that the body is stimulated to produce more cells to kill the cancer, which can deplete some of the normal cells of oxygen.

There are a couple of problems that can come with fatigue.

Depression, sometimes pain can also coexist with fatigue.

There is also lack of appetite.

Tips for patients who have chronic fatigue is to get enough rest, which is rest in between activities.

Get enough exercise.

Walking is a good aerobic exercise that helps the body increase the oxygen level.

And also eat a nutritious meal.

That would be calorie dense, protein dense foods that would help the body heal, and at the same time, provide a source of energy.

Also, make sure that you're well hydrated.

Drink plenty of fluids because enough fluids also helps the body recover, and at the same time also helps lessen the fatigue.

Fatigue eventually goes away after the completion of treatment.

It's not going to go away immediately, but over the course of several months, fatigue would get better.

So continue to exercise, eat well, socialize with people, get some support, because fatigue is going to go away and you will be back to your normal self.

(gentle piano music)