Fatigue: Management

If the person on chemotherapy has decreased hemoglobin, or oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood, and it seems like the low hemoglobin level will last for a while, then a medicine called PROCRIT® (Epoetin alfa) may be prescribed. This medicine is given as an injection to keep the hemoglobin at a higher level. This can sometimes manage fatigue. PROCRIT is for anemic chemotherapy patients with most types of cancer.

To manage anemia related fatigue or to lessen it, a person on chemotherapy can also:

• Eat a well-balanced diet and talk to the nurse or doctor about taking a multivitamin daily.

• Drink plenty of fluids. 

• Regularly do gentle exercise.

• Talk about problems with friends and family or the health care team.

• Ask for help with chores or tasks.

Be sure to talk with your healthcare provider about how you can manage or lessen anemia related fatigue.

PROCRIT is proven and safe. PROCRIT is available by prescription only and is injected by your doctor or nurse. In studies, diarrhea, edema, fever, vomiting, shortness of breath, tingling, and upper respiratory infection occurred more often with PROCRIT than placebo. Although high blood pressure has been noted rarely in cancer patients treated with PROCRIT, blood pressure should be monitored carefully, particularly in patients with a history of high blood pressure or heart disease.

References:

Chan CW and Molassiotis A. The impact of fatigue on Chinese cancer patients in Hong Kong. Support Care Cancer 2001;9(1):18-24.

Ferrell BR, Grant M, Dean GE et al. “Bone Tired:” The experience of fatigue and its impact on quality of life. Oncology Nursing Forum 1996;23:1539-1547.

Winningham M and Barton-Burke M. Fatigue in Cancer: A Multidisciplinary Approach. Sudbury, MA: Jones and Bartlett Publishers; 2003.