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Fatigue and Metastatic Breast Cancer
Fatigue is hard to describe. You feel like you don't have any energy and are tired all the time. But there's not a specific cause, such as doing errands all day, working out, or other kinds of exertion. Fatigue is the most common side effect of breast cancer treatment. Some doctors estimate that 9 out of 10 people experience some fatigue during treatment. Fatigue from treatment can appear suddenly and can be overwhelming. Many pain medications, such as codeine and morphine, also can cause fatigue. Fatigue can be made worse by other side effects such as pain, depression, and anemia. Poor nutrition also can play a role in fatigue.
Because there are so many causes of fatigue, there's no one medicine that can relieve fatigue. If you think you're experiencing fatigue, talk to your doctor. Together, you can figure out ways to solve the fatigue. Some complementary and holistic medicine techniques can reduce fatigue, as can exercising more and a healthy diet.
Learn more about fatigue.
