Needing more sleep is often normal in the last stage of life. This can be troubling for some people who might be afraid they won’t wake up again. Keep chairs close by so you can sit down right away without using extra energy.įatigue can also make you sleep more. Plan rest periods when you are out of bed so that you can sit to regain energy. Some people find a bedside commode or toilet chair helps, so they don’t waste energy traveling to and from the bathroom. Sit outside, listen to music, go for a ride in the car, spend time watching a meal being prepared – distractions and stimulation of your senses may help ease fatigue. Plan activities around the times you feel the best and have the most energy. If you're able to drive, be careful to not drive when you are feeling fatigue. If you're shaky, don't use sharp utensils or other things that might cause injury. Your doctor or hospice team can help you get the equipment you need to be comfortable and safe. You may feel safer if you have a walker or wheelchair. If you’re unsteady on your feet, make sure you have help when walking. You might even be able to stop taking certain medicines that aren’t helping or aren’t needed any more. They may be needed, but you may want to talk with your health care team to find out if switching to new ones or taking them at different times may help. Some medicines can make you feel tired, too. Tell them how you feel, and try different things to see if they help you feel less tired. Your health care team and your caregivers can help you find ways to manage the things that can make you feel more fatigued. Another step is to try to prevent more fatigue by carefully balancing rest and activity. The first step in helping to manage fatigue is recognizing and controlling any symptoms that make it worse, like pain, nausea, neuropathy, or constipation. Almost everyone with advanced cancer has this symptom. Cancer-related fatigue is often defined as an unusual and ongoing sense of extreme tiredness that doesn’t get better with rest. This tiredness can affect you physically, mentally, and emotionally. Fatigueįatigue is the feeling of being tired and not being able to do things at your usual pace. If it's difficult or tiring for you to communicate, be sure your loved one or caregiver can help you to pass on information your health care team needs to know. Be sure to check in and tell your health care team how you are doing. We also give some tips on how to manage these symptoms.Ĭommunication with the people who are helping to care for you is key. It’s not always normal to feel bad, and there are often things that can be done to help you feel better. It's important to know that each person's experience is different. These are some things a person may experience during the last stage of life, usually as death gets closer. This information may help you find answers to your questions and concerns during this very sensitive and difficult time. This is written for the person with cancer, but it can be helpful to the people who care for, love, and support someone with advanced cancer, too.
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