Hello. I have finished my breast cancer treatment over a year ago. I find myself tired a great deal. I take a nap in the mid morning and the late afternoon. I was not a nap taker prior to treatment. Do you think taking naps is making my fatigue worse.
If the naps cause you to not sleep well at night, they could be contributing. If you nap and still sleep well at night, then they probably are not contributing. Exercise can help decrease fatigue. This means increasing your level of physical activity gradually. If you do not have a regular exercise program that starts at a low level and gradually increases, you could consider starting one. That might help. If you are frail or have an increased risk of injury with activity (bone metastasis, osteoporosis, anemia, low platelet count, heart problems, lung problems, muscle weakness from long term inactivity or steroids, etc.), you can see a physical therapist or occupational therapist to have a safe exercise program developed for you. You might want to consider being evaluated in the Fatigue Clinic (If you are not a M. D. Anderson patient please check to see if your Hospital offers this service) to be sure there is nothing else that is causing your fatigue that might be able to be corrected.