Cancer treatments often include chemotherapy, which effectively destroys cancer cells. While chemotherapeutic agents work to eliminate malignant cells, they can also destroy the healthy cells in your body. Because of this, you may experience severe fatigue and weakness. To combat chemotherapy-related fatigue, your oncologist may recommend the following cancer support treatments.

Ferrous Sulfate

One of the most common reasons for chemotherapy-related fatigue is anemia. In addition to fatigue, anemia can result in weakness, shortness of breath, headaches, dizziness, bone pain, and heart palpitations. Chemotherapy-related anemia occurs as a result of decreased hemoglobin, or red blood cells, and bone marrow damage. To boost your hemoglobin count, your physician may recommend taking the mineral known as ferrous sulfate to boost both your hemoglobin and your iron stores.

Your doctor may also recommend that you eat foods high in iron such as spinach, lean meats, beans, tuna, eggs, and nuts. If taking ferrous sulfate and eating iron-rich foods fails to reverse your anemia, or if your anemia is severe, your oncologist may recommend further cancer support treatments such as a blood transfusion.

Protein Supplements

Another reason you might become fatigued during your chemotherapy treatment is muscle wasting. This can lead to severe muscle pain, limited mobility, weight loss, and fatigue. Both chemotherapy and the cancer itself can lead to muscle wasting and loss of appetite. To enhance protein synthesis, increase your muscle strength, and reverse fatigue, your doctor may recommend protein supplements.

Some of the most common protein supplements include supplemental protein shakes that are high in protein and rich in essential vitamins and minerals. Many cancer patients who are undergoing chemotherapy treatments experience severe nausea and vomiting, and because of this, are unable to eat.

Supplemental shakes are generally well-tolerated by most patients, however, if you are unable to tolerate the consistency or the flavor of your protein shakes, your doctor may prescribe an appetite-boosting medication in pill form. Appetite boosting medications allow you to eat the foods you enjoy so that you have more energy and feel less tired.

If you experience chemotherapy-related fatigue, talk to your oncologist about the above cancer support treatments. New chemotherapy drugs and other medications make it less likely that you will become severely fatigued or sick while you are receiving your cancer treatments. When cancer patients are able to tolerate their treatments, they often have a better outlook on life and enjoy more hope for a brighter future.