GENERAL LACK OF ENERGY/FEELING TIRED ALL THE TIME – INTRODUCTION | Pharmacynote

May
18
2009

GENERAL LACK OF ENERGY/FEELING TIRED ALL THE TIME – INTRODUCTION

Posted by: admin in Categories: Cancer.
Using Tags: Cancer

Having cancer is a very tiring business! I’d be very surprised if you had never experienced this symptom. The cancer itself can sap your energy, especially if it is extensive and/or you have lost some weight. Many complications of cancer cause general weakness and lack of energy — for example, anaemia; lungs, liver or kidneys that don’t work properly; and too much calcium or too little sodium or potassium in the blood. All forms of cancer treatment can be very tiring. Of course, nervous tension and worry about the future can make you feel very tired and disinterested in any of your normal activities, even ones that you are physically well enough for.

It is worth checking for those factors that can be treated amongst the ones I have mentioned above if you feel particularly tired and lacking in energy. For example, anaemia can be righted with a blood transfusion. The mineral disturbances mentioned can all be corrected if they are found. Perhaps your anti-cancer treatment can be modified—ask about cutting down doses for example. You should also consider stopping your anti-cancer treatment altogether. Weigh the costs you are now experiencing against the likely benefits — your decision may not be the same as when you first agreed to have the treatment. Then you were working on what you were told was likely, now you can reconsider in the light of what is actually happening to you.