However, the word ‘cancer’ can weigh heavily on the mind (hinengaro), and may make you worry, feel anxious, overwhelmed or depressed. This can sometimes make it difficult to eat well, exercise or sleep.
What exactly is fatigue?
Everyone describes it differently. Some tāne say they’re drained or weary all the time. Others say that they are completely exhausted most of the day.
The key difference is that fatigue goes beyond occasional tiredness. It’s like your energy has been completely zapped — making it harder to sleep, work, hang out with friends and whānau, and get on with everyday life. It's not usually the kind of sleepiness that you can push through by getting a good night of sleep, or with a cup of coffee. This feeling of being drained can linger for a long time, sometimes even months or years. Simply just being tired, on the other hand, usually goes away after resting up a bit.
People describe this type of fatigue as ‘whole-body tiredness’.
How common is it?
Almost everyone diagnosed with cancer experiences fatigue, as cancer itself is a lot on the
tinana
. Fatigue is so common, that about 3 in 4
tāne
with prostate cancer go through it.
What can you do to pump up your energy?
Eating well before, during and after treatment is key. Keeping active with an exercise program could also help improve your energy levels more quickly. To help you get going, talk to your team about having a nutrition and workout plan created that will work just for you.
