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Diet and exercise when coping with fatigue

Making some simple changes to your diet and exercise habits may help to reduce the symptoms of fatigue.

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Some useful hints:

Keep a diary of what and when you eat every day.
Try to take advantage of the times when your appetite is best.
Drink plenty of fluids.
If your taste changes, try different foods or eat the foods that taste best to you.
Ask your doctor or nurse for any leaflets that give dietary advice.
You can also ask your doctor to refer you to a dietitian, who can give you helpful ideas.

Our Eating well| section has more information on coping with eating difficulties| caused by cancer or its treatment.

There is good evidence that exercise can actually help to reduce the symptoms of fatigue, so it’s important to try to exercise a little even if you don’t feel like it. It’s best to try to get a good balance between being active, exercising and getting plenty of rest.

Always talk to your cancer specialist or GP before you start to exercise or increase the amount of exercise you take. They can advise you on the type and amount of exercise that’s safe for you to do. It’s also important to discuss any other medical conditions you have, such as high blood pressure, diabetes or lung problems, as these may be affected by exercise.

General suggestions for exercise

Plan some activity or light exercise into your day.
Regular, light exercise such as walking has been shown to reduce fatigue as well as nausea and vomiting, and can help some people sleep better.
If exercise is impossible, try to stay active in your daily routine.
Pay attention to how your body reacts to exercise: how did you feel? How well did you sleep after exercising?
Drink plenty of fluids before, during and after exercise.
Keep a record of your activities so that you and your healthcare professionals can monitor your progress.
Allow your muscles time to recover after activity by balancing activity and rest.
Don’t exercise if you feel unwell, are in pain or have any other symptoms that worry you, such as feeling breathless. Let your doctor know if you feel unwell or have worrying symptoms.

Seeing a physiotherapist

You might find it helpful to get advice about exercise from a physiotherapist. Your GP or cancer specialist can arrange a referral for you. A physiotherapist can help you to:

build up your physical fitness
improve your energy, strength, joint range, coordination and balance
manage the side effects of treatment
set some realistic goals for keeping active.

The physiotherapist may suggest referring you for a supervised group exercise programme. These groups are run by experienced fitness trainers. Many people find the social side of being in a group enjoyable, and it may also help give you a bit more motivation to exercise.

We have more information about physical activity and cancer| which you may find helpful.

Content last reviewed: 1 February 2011

Next planned review: 2013

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Macmillan Cancer Support, registered charity in England and Wales (261017), Scotland (SC039907) and the Isle of Man (604). A company limited by guarantee, registered in England and Wales company number 2400969. Isle of Man company number 4694F. Registered office: 89 Albert Embankment, London SE1 7UQ.