Fatigue, or extreme tiredness, goes way beyond your typical “mid-afternoon slump.” We’ve all felt like we need a nap from time to time. Fatigue from cancer treatment is different. This is a bone-weary, crushing sense of tiredness. It feels as if you simply cannot take another step or get out of the chair.

Many things can cause fatigue during treatment for mesothelioma. The treatments themselves can cause tiredness. If you are living with mesothelioma and it is making it difficult to breathe, this can make fatigue worse.

Some people experience anemia during treatment. Anemia reduces the ability of your blood to carry oxygen throughout the body. With less oxygen to fuel muscles, you feel tired and weary.

If you are so tired that you can’t complete your daily activities at all, talk to your doctor. If your fatigue is due to an underlying medical cause, your doctor can help.

Nutrition Helps

Even with the best medical management, fatigue can be worsened by not eating enough or eating the wrong foods. By focusing on good nutrition, you can give your body the energy it needs to function at it’s best. The following ideas will get you on track for fueling your body right.

Nutrition Tips for Energy

• Drink plenty of fluids. Dehydration worsens fatigue.
• Aim for at least 8 cups of fluid each day. Try water, tea, or water 100% fruit juice diluted with a bit of water. If you have a fluid restriction, ask your doctor how much fluid you should have each day.
• Avoid drinking regular soda. It is loaded with sugar. This may give you “quick energy,” but it will make you more tired in the long run.
• If you are not losing weight, do not overeat for energy. This can cause excess weight gain. Carrying around extra weight will worsen fatigue
• If you find you cannot eat due to stress, depression, anxiety, or other emotions talk to your medical team right away. They can give you information on how to manage stress. Your medical team can put you in contact with a counselor, a support group, or another mental health care provider if you’d like.
• Avoid snacking on candy, soda pop, cakes, donuts, baked goods, cookies, pies and other dessert foods. These high-sugar foods may give a quick “energy boost”, but you will feel worse once this wears off.
• Have some protein or some healthy fat, such as nuts or seeds, with each meal and snack. Protein and fat give you longer-lasting energy. For example, try eating a piece of fruit plus a handful of nuts. Or try fruit with cottage cheese.
• Focus on protein. Your body needs protein to repair and heal itself. Protein also is needed to build up your immune system and your blood cells. Protein-rich foods include eggs, chicken, fish, meat, yogurt, cottage cheese, nuts and seeds, and peanut butter.

And don’t forget to talk to your health care team about extreme tiredness. If your fatigue has a medical cause, such as anemia, there may be medications that can help!