Using Your Energy Wisely

Cancer changes a person. I have learned along the way many things that have changed for the good and sometimes for the bad. It changes the way you look at life, it can make you appreciate things that you may not have before you were diagnosed. It can also change your daily habits. After a cancer diagnosis, you must learn to use your energy wisely.

Cancer demands our energy

Cancer fatigue can be caused by both the lung cancer itself and the treatment for it. It is a very common side effect, unfortunately. I found that I didn’t realize that what I was going through was fatigue until days later. An example of this is when my hemoglobin was so low, that I needed blood. I remember being at work and laying down in the bathroom. It was pretty bad but once I got the blood I felt so much better!

After I was diagnosed, I worked full-time for as long as I could. My body did not like this plan and so I took some time off work. I was traveling for a clinical trial (Chicago – Boston), which took a toll on my energy level. I found that taking some time off work was the best thing for me.

Balancing work with cancer

After a few different treatments and finally finding my golden ace of treatment, I decided to go back to work. In doing so, I learned I needed to use my energy wisely. I was working a casual part-time role and then moved on to a typical part-time role. When my treatment was going well I decided to look for a full-time role, which is where I am at today. I start work at 8 am and getting a good night’s sleep is very important. It doesn’t always happen because I am a night owl from way back but I try.

I work until around 4:30. We make plans for dinner, go grocery shopping, or whatever else we have planned. I cannot do too much after work, so I prioritize what needs to be done. I have noticed that I have just enough energy to clean the kitchen and then do it again the next day! I work from home a few days a week and that helps since I can take a few more breaks and am not expected to be sitting at a desk all day.

If you need to rest, then rest

It is sometimes hard for the people in our lives or our caregivers to understand just how much a cancer diagnosis can change one’s energy level. If you need to rest, do it, and don’t feel bad about it!

I wouldn’t keep myself cooped up in the house through either. If you are only leaving your house to go to doctors’ appointments, try to change it up a bit and sit outside on the lawn furniture or go for a walk around the block.

When you are deciding how your day is going to go give yourself some grace and rest if you need to, go outside if you can, and use your energy wisely. Let me know in the comments how you keep active and if you have any issues prioritizing your tasks to keep your energy level up.