Nine years out from breast cancer and four years out from her melanoma, this cancer survivor still combats her fatigue.
BY Barbara Tako
PUBLISHED August 24, 2019
Barbara Tako is a breast cancer survivor (2010), melanoma survivor (2014) and author of Cancer Survivorship Coping Tools–We'll Get You Through This. She is a cancer coping advocate, speaker and published writer for television, radio and other venues across the country. She lives, survives, and thrives in Minnesota with her husband, children and dog. See more at www.cancersurvivorshipcopingtools.com,or www.clutterclearingchoices.com.
Nine years out from breast cancer and four years out from her melanoma diagnosis, this cancer survivor still combats her fatigue.
I have basically decided that my fatigue comes from several sources - some of it is cancer-related, some is more broadly health related, and some is emotional stress. What is the fix for fatigue? A pill to pop? A guided meditation? Fatigue can be a complex thing to tease out but it is worth the time and effort to address it.
Here are my suggestions:
First, pursue every possible medical cause. This can involve everything from blood work, seeing an endocrinologist, and seeing a pulmonologist to have a sleep study done. Look at the life stressors that can impact your fatigue: relationship changes, job changes, and the loss or decline of loved ones. Finally, look at the health habits that may be contributing to your fatigue: carrying extra weight and/or not getting enough physical exercise. Unfortunately, fatigue can come from many different sources, some that we have control over and others that we may not. Be thorough and persistent with this step even though it is not fun, especially for cancer survivors, to add more medical appointments to their calendars.
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