Concentration problems, weakness, fatigue, listlessness: fatigue symptoms (fatigue in German means tiredness, exhaustion) can massively affect everyday life. The problem with fatigue: Even with sufficient sleep, the symptoms do not decrease. Fatigue (also: fatigue syndrome) is an accompanying symptom that many cancer patients suffer from during their cancer illness – estimates vary between 14 and 96 percent. Difficult to manage is often the lack of understanding from those around you when you can’t get up to do anything.
Causes of fatigue in cancer
The causes of fatigue (pronounced fatieg) are not all understood. Certainly, the cancer itself plays a role. For example, fatigue syndrome is particularly common in certain types of cancer, such as leukemia or disseminated breast cancer. However, the therapy itself also contributes to fatigue, since radiation and chemotherapy also place an enormous strain on healthy cells. In addition, harmful metabolic products accumulate during chemotherapy in particular, which can intensify a fatigue syndrome.
In addition, cancer is accompanied by numerous side effects, which in turn promote or intensify fatigue: repeated infections, side effects of medication, pain and nausea. Malnutrition and muscle breakdown, which are common in cancer, can also exacerbate fatigue syndrome. Anemia is also an important cause, producing and exacerbating fatigue and tiredness. Also an important influencing factor is the psychological stress of cancer.
Exactly how the physical and psychological factors interact in detail and individually to lead to fatigue syndrome is still being researched.
Fatigue: symptoms and signs
Profound exhaustion and fatigue can occur on one or more levels. Physical (bodily) fatigue is manifested by the following symptoms:
- Increased need for sleep
- Constant fatigue
- Limited physical performance
- Sleep disturbances
Cognitive mental fatigue affects attention and memory. The following symptoms may occur:
- Difficulty concentrating
- Listlessness
- Low frustration level and high irritability
- Social isolation
Recognize and treat fatigue
First, the doctor will get to the bottom of any physical causes. If possible, their treatment follows, for example, anemia, nutrient deficiency, metabolic disorder or infection. Pain and nausea as well as other symptoms accompanying cancer are treated, and medication may be changed. In addition to a discussion of the patient’s medical history, questionnaires are often used to narrow down the symptoms more precisely.
However, a therapy of fatigue with only combating the causes often does not help satisfactorily against the symptoms. It is therefore important that those affected by fatigue do something themselves. The first step: the information that fatigue is a widespread accompanying symptom of cancer, often already relieves the affected person and his relatives. It is also good to know that although fatigue syndrome lasts longer, it says nothing about the course of the disease and often improves over time.
The doctor will probably also explain that it is important to be physically active despite the weakness: Activity often improves fatigue symptoms and also seems to positively affect the overall healing process. Relaxation methods may help to manage daily life and optimize sleep patterns. Assistance in dealing with fatigue syndrome for those affected and their relatives is also provided by cancer counseling centers, experts in psycho-oncology and self-help groups.
Fatigue in MS and burnout
Fatigue, however, occurs not only in cancer, but less frequently in other chronic physical or mental diseases, for example, fatigue syndrome in multiple sclerosis (MS), rheumatism, Parkinson’s disease or burnout. Despite similar names and symptoms, fatigue syndrome, which is mainly triggered by cancer, is distinguished in Germany from myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS). In contrast, this chronic fatigue syndrome does not represent a separate clinical picture in other countries.
