Almost all cancer patients with advanced cancer report the same “unbearable” symptom, as they say, a feeling of constant and intense fatigue.
Oncologists explain it as an inability to do things at your normal pace. As a rule, this is due to the fact that the tumor has penetrated into nearby tissues, lymph nodes and other parts of the body.
Patients with advanced cancer are more likely to experience fatigue than those in earlier stages of the disease. As soon as the number of cancer cells in the body increases, fatigue can lead to a decrease in appetite and a decrease in activity.
The main cause of fatigue in cancer patients is hormone imbalance, which is especially common in breast and prostate cancer.
Some cancers produce cytokines, a group of proteins that play an important role in boosting the immune system. This, too, can cause fatigue.
A report published in the medical journal BMC Primary Care characterizes the type of fatigue in terminal cancer patients as “unbearable, debilitating weakness.” It is observed in 57 percent of patients receiving palliative care, that is, when it is not about treatment, but about maintaining quality of life (which can be preserved in each case).
The Cleveland Clinic describes cancer fatigue as “crippling” because it can come on suddenly. In this case, neither long sleep nor rest helps.
According to such patients, most of the time they feel physically, emotionally and mentally exhausted.
The first symptoms of cancer, when the appearance of which you should definitely consult a doctor:
- Sudden unmotivated weight loss.
- Fever and fever.
- Fatigue and weakness.
- Bone pain.
- Changing the quality and color of the skin cover.
- Change in the size, color, thickness, shape of moles.
- The occurrence of wounds or ulcers that are not amenable to therapy.
- Disorders of the bladder.
- Various stool disorders (constipation, diarrhea, pain during emptying).
- Persistent headache.
- Unusual discharge, bleeding.
- Incessant cough, sore throat, hoarseness, as well as problems with swallowing and indigestion.
Oncologist Vorobyov: 80% of cancer patients report the same symptom
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More than 50% of cancer patients report the same 5 symptoms
Important! Information provided for reference purposes. Ask a specialist about contraindications and side effects and under no circumstances self-medicate. At the first sign of illness, consult a doctor.