Fatigue in cancer patients
Fatigue is sometimes one of the indicators on the progress of the disease and transmission of tumors of the positions they arise, is also one of the most important symptoms in the diagnosis of some tumors, both in children or adults, for example, parents of children rushing patients of acute leukemia or lymphoma Allahoddgkin, to request Medical assistance and testing, while noticing the exhaustion apparent on children before diagnosis, and the tumors cause the emergence of fatigue in different ways directly and indirectly, such as moving to the bone marrow which give rise to anemia, or Bafrazha for some compounds and toxic substances in the body which in turn impede and interfere with normal functions of cells, some tumors also affect directly on the respiratory system, leading to the emergence of fatigue.
And fatigue may be due to the nature of the case for many other reasons, including the effects of cancer and Maagath (especially bio-treatment) on the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord), and the effect of second-line medicines for the treatment of pain, frustration and depression treatment, or vomiting, and course of cancer patients are exposed for long periods of high stress and therefore require more energy and thus the emergence of their fatigue.
Factors associated with the emergence of fatigue
Impossible to identify all the factors that lead to the emergence of fatigue in patients with cancer, and possible factors include:
Oncology treatments the effect of anemia drugs to help weight loss, anorexia changes out low rates of metabolism of hormones frustration emotional difficulties, sleep efficiency and activity has difficulties breathing effort and the lack of consistency of muscle pain, infection and the presence of other health problems as well as cancer.
And the following paragraphs we review the About the most important of these factors.
Oncology treatments
Fatigue is a common and familiar exhibitors after receiving chemotherapy and radiation treatments, and may result in the emergence of anemia or gathered remnants of toxic compounds and cells in the body, in addition to that some patients respond well to treatments and diagnostic changes in mood and mood and sleep disruption rates and comfort.
Despite the fact that many studies have linked between fatigue and radiation therapy and a long time ago, but their relationship is still vague, and may result in fatigue for the growing need of energy needed to repair skin tissue affected, and despite the drop in intensity after the sessions therapeutic However, many patients do not return to normal levels of efficiency and activity, and it is noted that the rate of chronic fatigue than in the elderly, and patients advanced tumors, or when you receive combination therapies are common (eg, chemotherapy radiation treatments together).
And there are several factors associated with fatigue when receiving chemotherapy, and produced side effects such as nausea, vomiting, weight loss, which in turn causes fatigue, and cause treatment vital role in the emergence of fatigue when the majority of cases, and appears within the group of symptoms known Bashbahh symptoms influenza, which include fever, chills, headache, muscle pain, some patients also suffer from problems of their abilities on the mental focus and attention and clear thinking, in addition to the general feeling of weakness, and of course the type of fatigue depends on the type and style of bioremediation of the user.
And on the other cancer patients often suffer from exhaustion immediately after the submission of the types of surgical work, both at diagnosis or during treatment, and with that it improves with time, but it may get worse when coincides with the fatigue caused by other treatments.
Anemia
Can be considered anemia a major factor in the incidence of fatigue, and may result in anemia, as is well known because of the effects of the cancer itself or Maagath or because of the presence of health problems, secondary, and there are several types of anemia, are identified and their severity over the Revision History the patient's medical and physical examination and blood tests.
Nutritional factors
Fatigue often happen when the body requires more energy than is actually received by nutrition, and there are three key aspects of effective cancer patients with regard to nutrition, can be summarized as follows:
Changes in the body's ability to process and digest food naturally and normally.
Increasing the body's need for energy (due to the growth of tumor tissue, or an infection, or fever, or breathing problems).
Lower amount of food intake (whether due to loss of appetite, or nausea and vomiting, or diarrhea, or the presence of intestinal blockages).
Psychological factors
Beliefs, mood and attitudes of the patient from the situation that is lived, and psychological reactions to the pressures emerging, all factors that contribute to the aggravation of fatigue in patients with cancer, and some statistics indicate that the medical cost in the range between 40 to 60% of cases of fatigue in all patients ( cancer patients and other patients) is not caused by disease or physical condition.
The ills of phobias and severe anxiety, and anxiety and depression is one of the more psychological factors that cause fatigue, and become exhausted physically worse when the patient suffers from depression in particular (which arises with the proportion ranging from 15 to 25% of patients with cancer, and of the symptoms of loss of interest, the difficulty of mental focus, and sense of hopelessness and futility), and lasts for longer periods than usual even after the end of the causes physical, and the anxiety and fear teenager at diagnosis of cancer, in addition to the effects of disease, physical and mental, psychological, and social , and also the financial burdens, are all factors that increase the emotional and emotional pressures, and thus continued to feel unwell.
Mental capacity factor
Of factors associated with fatigue are also problems serenity and mental focus by receiving treatment and after its completion, and the extension of periods of confusion and poor ability to focus and attention, and the usual symptoms that disappear and return the patient to feel natural after having some rest and relaxation sleep, (which is necessary to alleviate these problems, and if he is not always enough).
Factors, sleep disorders and lack of movement
Aspects, which in turn contribute to the emergence of fatigue occurring insomnia and decreased sleep at night, or sleep disorders and intermittent, as well as sleep during the day for long periods, in addition to the loss of efficiency, activity and inactivity motor during the day, and the usual show higher levels of fatigue when patients with little activity during the day, and when suffering from insomnia for most of the night.
Factors, medication assistance
The term pharmaceutical assistance to the drugs that are not of the category of drugs, chemicals used in chemotherapy, such as sedatives and narcotic drugs and sedatives used to treat and relieve the pain, which in turn cause drowsiness and sleepiness, in addition to antidepressants or antihistamines, and others, and from natural to take several drugs in combination for different purposes and at the same time periods increases the fatigue.
Fact fatigue
In order to investigate and identify the reasons behind the emergence of fatigue when the patient, arranging the best deal possible, should determine the frequency and pattern of fatigue, and finding all the factors that cause, and in general includes the diagnosis, identify the following aspects:
Pattern of fatigue when the patient, when started, and the duration and intensity, and what can it get better or worse.
The type and severity of the disease and the side effects of treatments, and previous treatments and medications currently covered.
Style and habits of sleep and rest and relaxation.
Eating habits and appetite, changes in the case of weight.
Psychological Study and Investigation of the depression and frustration.
Physical examination, including tests of walking and sitting and movement joints.
Investigate the underlying factors that should be addressed and where possible, which include anemia and respiratory problems and muscle weakness, and dehydration and nutritional deficiencies, and phobias, fear, and frustration and depression, and pain, and the effect of medications.
Address the fatigue
Concentrated treatment fatigue in cancer patients in general to address the symptoms, and psychological support and emotional for the patient, as the causes of the exact and that can be attributed to the cancer itself is still vague and indefinite, and may include treatment modify the doses of medication to address pain and conduct the transfer of red blood cells, and stimulating the use of drugs for the production and the growth of blood cells, and supplements, nutrition support, which contains iron and vitamins, in particular, in addition to drugs for depression, drugs and mental well-known catalysts.
Treatment of anemia
Treatment includes fatigue of anemia in most cases, a transfer of red blood cells as an effective treatment, in addition to stimulating the use of drugs for the production and the growth of blood cells and known growth stimuli (Growth factors).
Mental stimuli (Psychostimulant)
Although fatigue is one of the most common symptoms in cases of tumors, but few of the drugs is effective in treatment, and doctors may prescribe some drugs classified as stimulants, psychological (psychostimulants) and light doses, and that will help patients who suffer from depression or depression, or non-responders, or who feel the time fatigue or distraction, and give this medication to a patient feel better, and reduces fatigue and improves the appetite, they also help to reverse the effects of narcotic painkillers (eg morphine), but these drugs side effects, of course, especially over the long term and at high doses, and the effects of this constant loss of appetite, and to feel the sleepy, nightmares and suffering.
Physical exercise
Help physical exercise (including walking, light) a lot of cancer patients, and noted that many of those who persevere to physical exertion, have the appetite better, and have the power physically larger, and are more optimistic and the ability to cope with the disease and endure the treatments and high spirits , including patients in the advanced stages, especially when shared by family members and friends in such physical treatment programs.
Activities and comfort
Pay no changes in the pattern of everyday life the body to use more energy, and should be for cancer patients to prioritize their daily activities, and arrange programs to suit their health status, such as determining the timing of certain to do different activities and times to rest, and so to make best use of their energies, Ltd., as well to follow the appropriate policy to manage sleep and rest, such as avoiding lying down only at times the desire to sleep, or to avoid excessive daytime naps only for specific times (one hour), or reduce the sources of noise during sleep.
Patient Education
Is to address the chronic fatigue in cancer patients in the acceptance of the situation and learn how to deal and live with it, and with time to find patients that fatigue has become inherent in them, and although it is expected often, and opposed the temporary profile of treatments, but many other factors may make it continue, and patients should learn useful ways to manage fatigue and ways to deal and live with the conditions of continuity, and learn the following issues in particular:
The difference between the point of fatigue, depression and frustration.
The health reasons behind the fatigue (lack of fluid, imbalance of salts in blood, anemia, respiratory problems).
Monitor the daily pattern for the conduct of their activities and the pattern of rest.
Engage in physical activity convenient for the same (such as walking or gardening or home, etc.).
Identify activities and actions that may cause fatigue, and find ways to avoid or change them, and scheduling important tasks to perform when you feel a little fatigue, and cancellation is important or what is causing stress or psychological stress.
Importance of proper nutrition and eating enough of the nutrients and fluids.
Identify fatigue as a side effect of certain treatments.
Engage in physical exercise and light as possible, and the importance of physical therapy in the treatment of weak muscles or nerves.
To avoid situations or circumstances that may cause stress or psychological distress, and to identify areas or activities that reduce fatigue.
Determine whether the prescribed medications to help treat fatigue useful to them or not.
