First off, a recent diagnosis is a lot to take in — so it makes sense to be asking these questions. Fatigue with lymphoma can start at any point — it may already be present as a symptom of the lymphoma itself, or it can develop once treatment begins.
Common causes of lymphoma-related fatigue include:
- The lymphoma itself Show Full Answer
First off, a recent diagnosis is a lot to take in — so it makes sense to be asking these questions. Fatigue with lymphoma can start at any point — it may already be present as a symptom of the lymphoma itself, or it can develop once treatment begins.
Common causes of lymphoma-related fatigue include:
- The lymphoma itself affecting blood cell counts
- Chemotherapy or radiation therapy
- Anemia (low red blood cell count)
- Dehydration from treatment side effects
- Poor sleep or appetite
- Anxiety or depression Telling fatigue apart from depression can be tricky because they overlap. Here's a rough guide:
Fatigue tends to feel like:
- Physical exhaustion even after rest
- Difficulty completing basic tasks like showering or cooking
- Low energy that doesn't improve with sleep
Depression tends to feel like:
- Persistent sadness or hopelessness
- Loss of interest in things you used to enjoy
- Feeling emotionally numb or withdrawn
Both can exist at the same time, and depression can actually make fatigue worse. The best step is to be open with your care team about both — they can run blood tests to check for physical causes and also screen for depression. There are effective ways to manage both.
September 15
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