Surviving Breast Cancer

Breast cancer treatment is a physical, emotional, and mental challenge: © stock.adobe.com.

Breast cancer treatment is a physical, emotional, and mental challenge. Facing cancer and its side effects demands extraordinary physical, emotional, and spiritual stamina.

One of the most common side effects is the overwhelming fatigue that can accompany not only cancer but also many treatments, like chemotherapy. This fatigue is more than just feeling tired after a long day; it’s a deep exhaustion that rest alone doesn’t always fix. If you’re feeling this way, you’re not alone.

Managing fatigue is crucial, not only for your body but also for your overall well-being and recovery. Continue reading to learn why this fatigue occurs, everyday tips to help you conserve energy, and how to work closely with your healthcare team to feel more like yourself again.

Why Does Fatigue Occur During Breast Cancer Treatment?

Fatigue during breast cancer treatment can stem from various causes, including:

Cancer-related biological changes: Some types of breast cancer affect hormones like estrogen and progesterone that influence energy levels and can put an energy-intensive strain on your immune and other systems.

Nutritional deficiencies: A loss of appetite or dietary restrictions can lead to low energy levels. (Check out SBC’s resources on managing nutrition through treatment.)

Chemotherapy and radiation therapy: These treatments can cause anemia and inflammation, leading to exhaustion.

Medications: Drugs used during treatment, such as pain relievers and anti-nausea medications, may cause drowsiness.

Emotional stress: Anxiety and depression associated with cancer can also contribute to fatigue.

Sleep disturbances: Pain, stress, or treatment effects can interfere with sleep.

What Does Cancer-Related Fatigue Feel Like?

Cancer-related fatigue differs from everyday tiredness. It is a persistent, overwhelming sense of physical, emotional, and mental exhaustion not relieved by rest or sleep. Unlike typical tiredness, this type of fatigue can significantly impact a person’s ability to carry out daily activities. Cancer-related fatigue often affects quality of life, making it difficult for individuals to concentrate, engage in social activities, or maintain a sense of well-being.

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Breast cancer treatment presents significant physical, emotional, and mental challenges, with fatigue being a prevalent side effect. This fatigue is distinct from regular tiredness, characterized by persistent exhaustion that rest cannot alleviate. It can arise from cancer-related biological changes, nutritional deficiencies, chemotherapy, medications, emotional stress, and sleep disturbances. Managing this fatigue is essential for overall well-being and recovery. Understanding its causes and working closely with healthcare teams can help patients conserve energy and improve their quality of life, enabling them to better engage in daily activities and social interactions.

Managing Fatigue During Breast Cancer Treatment: Tips for Conserving Energy

A breast cancer diagnosis brings about many losses: © stock.adobe.com.

A breast cancer diagnosis brings about many losses. These may include: the loss of ability to work and engage in family and social life as you once did, the fear of loss of life, and the loss of self-image. Breast cancer often leads to changes in appearance in ways that can feel dehumanizing or outside of traditional aesthetic standards.

While to some this loss may seem small compared to everything else being impacted by the disease, the blow to self-esteem these losses can cause is devastating, and contributes further stress to an already difficult situation. It is important to normalize discussion of these losses and acknowledge that the pain they cause is valid. Continue reading to learn how side effects such as weight gain, hair loss, and surgical changes can impact those with cancer – and how to acknowledge and process the emotions that come along with them.

Weight gain is a common side effect of breast cancer treatment. This can be caused by numerous factors. It may be more difficult to exercise during cancer treatment due to pain, fatigue, and nausea. Additionally, some medications and treatments can cause weight gain, such as steroids or corticosteroids, which can increase appetite. Corticosteroids in particular can also increase fatty tissue, which may additionally cause loss of muscle mass.

Chemotherapy is another common cause of weight gain. Despite the nausea often associated with chemotherapy, some people find that treatment causes them to crave sweets and carbohydrates. Additionally, it can bring on early menopause, which can slow metabolism and cause weight gain around the stomach. On average, women gain between 5 to 14 pounds over the course of a year during chemotherapy.

While these treatments can be life-saving, the side effects are incredibly difficult to experience. It is important to remember that our society in particular glorifies a “thin ideal,” which can make any amount of weight gain feel distressing. For those who are used to their body looking a certain way, this sudden loss of control can be deeply upsetting and cause major blows to their confidence and self-worth.

Breast cancer diagnosis often results in significant emotional and physical losses, including impacts on self-image and self-esteem due to changes in appearance. These changes, such as weight gain, hair loss, and surgical alterations, can be distressing and exacerbate the stress of the disease. Weight gain, a common side effect of treatment, is influenced by factors like reduced physical activity, medication side effects, and chemotherapy-induced early menopause. The societal emphasis on thinness can intensify the emotional impact of these changes, further affecting patients' confidence and self-worth.

A breast cancer diagnosis brings about many losses. 

The Impact of Breast Cancer on Self-Image

Cancer rehab is a fairly new and growing specialty in the therapy world.

Cancer rehab is a fairly new and growing specialty in the therapy world. It is not widely known about, nor is it utilized enough. One of the first statements I often receive from patients on their first visit is, “I’m not sure why I am here, but my surgeon recommended it so I came.” A popular question from other healthcare providers is, “This may seem like a silly question, but what exactly do you do?” Even during my two years of working in a well-known healthcare system in a big city, coworkers within our own building did not know about cancer rehab or where we were located. It was quite frustrating, especially when it is a much-needed service.

Individuals recently diagnosed with cancer, going through cancer treatment, or navigating survivorship can all benefit from cancer rehabilitation. Studies have shown that rehabilitation has a positive impact on these patients and it should be implemented from the point of diagnosis. Even if your physician or oncologist does not recommend physical therapy, do yourself a favor and ask for it! Be an advocate for yourself. Being educated from the beginning of treatment can improve the effectiveness of your treatment, make you feel better during and after your treatment, and decrease your chance of recurrence.

Cancer treatment takes a major toll on your body—physically, mentally, and emotionally. Some potential physical side effects from cancer treatment may include:

chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy

A physical therapist specialized in cancer rehabilitation can help guide you in safe exercises throughout your entire cancer experience and can provide hands-on techniques to reduce or treat these potential symptoms and side effects.

Physical therapy is not just about exercise, but research has shown that exercise has many positive impacts for those diagnosed with cancer, including:

reducing your risk of developing lymphedema

Cancer rehabilitation is an emerging specialty that remains underutilized and often misunderstood, even among healthcare professionals. It offers significant benefits for patients at all stages of cancer treatment, from diagnosis through survivorship. Rehabilitation can enhance treatment effectiveness, improve physical and mental well-being, and reduce recurrence risk. Cancer treatments can lead to various physical side effects, which specialized physical therapists can address through tailored exercises and techniques. Exercise, a key component of cancer rehab, has been shown to improve physical function, quality of life, and mental health while reducing fatigue and lymphedema risk.

Cancer rehab is a fairly new and growing specialty in the therapy world. 

What is Breast Cancer Rehab?

If you’re reading this, you recognize the importance of diet and nutrition after a cancer diagnosis.

As a Registered Holistic Nutritionist and someone who was treated for primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL), an uncommon, aggressive and deadly type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma, I understand the critical role nutrition plays in managing health during and after cancer treatments. My cancer treatment involved five rounds of chemotherapy, another high-dose chemotherapy protocol prior to a full stem cell transplant, and radiation to my eyes five times per week for four weeks.

I lived for a period of time believing that I had no control over my illness. Now I know that I can have a positive impact through nutrition and lifestyle choices, as well as mindset.

My suggestions below aim to improve gut health, the immune system, energy levels, and rate of recovery. Nutrition can play a role in helping you recover from treatments, continue to thrive, and ultimately take control of your health.

Managing symptoms during treatment is a challenge. Here are some suggestions to help you get through this:

For nausea, opt for bland, easy-to-digest foods such as bananas, apple sauce, crackers, and rice.

For loss of appetite, focus on small, frequent meals that are nutrient dense such as smoothies, nut butters, and protein shakes.

For mouth sores, choose soft, cool foods such as yogurt, smoothies, and mashed potatoes.

Choose whole grains for sustained energy and fiber.

Lean proteins can support muscle and tissue repair.

Healthy fats provide anti-inflammatory benefits.

Drink plenty of water, herbal teas, and clear broths to avoid dehydration, which can worsen fatigue and other symptoms.

Limit processed foods, refined carbohydrates, sugar, and alcohol.

While it’s best to get nutrients from whole foods, some may benefit from supplements due to dietary restrictions or increased nutritional needs. Always consult with a healthcare provider before starting any supplements to avoid interactions with treatments and medications.

In addition to these suggestions, a chart is included below to summarize the nutritional categories of food that are the most beneficial during and particularly ongoing after treatments.

Nutrition plays a pivotal role in managing health during and after cancer treatments, particularly for those with aggressive cancers like primary central nervous system lymphoma. Emphasizing gut health, immune support, and recovery, dietary strategies can mitigate treatment side effects such as nausea, loss of appetite, and mouth sores. Key recommendations include consuming nutrient-dense foods, whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy fats while staying hydrated and limiting processed foods. Supplements may be beneficial but should be taken under medical guidance to prevent interactions with cancer treatments.

If you’re reading this, you recognize the importance of diet and nutrition after a cancer diagnosis. 

Surviving Breast Cancer

Managing Fatigue During Breast Cancer Treatment: Tips for Conserving Energy

The Impact of Breast Cancer on Self-Image

What is Breast Cancer Rehab?

Nutrition After a Cancer Diagnosis

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