Hi Michael --

There have been several things found to imporve fatigue in cancer patients. One is making sure you are not anemic (assume you are being checked for this, cisplatin is a powerful myelosuppressent) Another is moderate exercise during radiation treatment -- I know, hard to do but apparently really makes a difference. A third is supplementation with the amino acid l-carnitine -- it has been shown in some medical studies to improve "cancer fatigue" not related to anemia. For example, a paper presented at 2004 ASCO found that supplementation with l-carnitine* improved fatigue, mood, & sleep in some cancer patients after only a week's supplementaion wih doses from 250-1250 mg/day, with no adverse effects. This amino acid is incorporated into most of the liquid formulae that are used (e.g. Boost, Nutren etc.) and this should be checked to estimate your daily dose from this source before any additional supplementation. You can get liquid l-carnitine at health food stores. Barry takes 500 mg/day and has been for several weeks and thinks it may have helped him avoid the most serious fatigue. Our RO and nurse had no problem with this amount.

I second Nelie's suggestion on the teas -- unfortunately Barry scoffs as he is a Brit and will not touch cold tea (or green tea for that matter, except in a pill!)

Gail

*L-carnitine supplementation in cancer patiens with fatigue and carnitine deficiency

Cruciani et al. 2004 J. Clin. Oncol. Vol 22(14s)