Cancer Fatigue

Everyone knows what it feels like to be occasionally exhaused, cancer patients who suffer from fatigue resulting from the disease itself or it's treatment--often suffer from a debilitating exhaustion that can last for days, weeks or months.

Cancer fatigue is described by cancer patients as a total lack of energy, it is a universal problem among cancer patients. It is the most common side effect of cancer and it's treatment. Fatigue is a constant reminder to patients that they have cancer. Pain in the legs, or difficulty in climbing stairs or walking short distances, are signs of fatigue. It can also mean being short of breath after only light activity, like cooking a meal or taking a shower. Fatigue can also affect the way a person thinks and feels--it can cause difficulty concentrating, losing interest in pastimes, and make you impatient.

What Causes Fatigue?

One of the most common causes of fatigue is chemotherapy treatment. Chemotherapy can lower the red blood cells in your body, which carrys oxygen throughout your body and gives you energy. Having fewer red blood cells means that the body gets "out of breath" when doing something even mildly strenuous.

Consequences Of Fatigue

Aside from the discomfort of feeling exhaused, fatigue can pose a number of obstacles in coping with cancer and reaping the full benefits of available treatments. Fatigue can significantly interfere with a patient's quality of life and may limit the effectiveness of treatment altogether. For some patients, treating fatigue may be as important as treating the disease.

Treating Cancer Fatigue

In most cases, the known cause of cancer-related fatigue can be treated and possibly relieved, to at least some degree. Proper nutrition, vitamin and mineral supplements, anti-deppresant and anti-anxiety medications, lifestyle modifications and even psychological counseling can help elleviate fatigue.

Coping With Cancer Fatigue

The experience of cancer-related fatigue and sucess of the treatment of fatigue vary from patient to patient. Talking to doctors and other caregivers about fatigue is the first step toward relieving it. The following techniques may help patient play an active role in combating fatigue:

* Describe symptoms to a healthcare professional and ask about ways to alleviate them.

* Keep a daily diary of fatigue symptoms, including when they are most and least tolerable.

* Plan activities to coincide with times when energy is highest. Allow time to reat between activities. Short naps and breaks may be more effective than long rest periods.

* Take short walks and exercise lightly.

* Eat small meals and snacks throughout the day rather than a few large meals (chemo can cause changes in appetite and taste).

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