Combating Cancer Related Fatigue & Weakness

Combating Cancer Related Fatigue & Weakness

Fatigue, tiredness and weakness are common side effects, which may be associated with cancer or occur after receiving chemotherapy or radiation therapy. Anxiety, pain, stress, depression, lack of sleep, poor diet, or having low hemoglobin may contribute to fatigue. An abnormal hemoglobin is 8.0 or below. If these suggestions to minimize fatigue do not help, please contact your healthcare provider.




Minimizing Fatigue, Tiredness or Weakness

• Rest during the day and when you are feeling tired. Rest prior to an activity to ensure energy. Ask family members and friends to help with daily household chores when needed.
  

• Eat high protein, high carbohydrate foods such as: cereals, meats, breads, nuts, beans and seafood.
  

• Use vitamins and mineral supplements prescribed by your physician.

• Sexual desire may diminish during your course of treatment. Plan time for intimacy.

• Use the four “Ps” to practice energy conservation and work simplified:

Planning – Try to plan out your day’s activity in advance. Plan to “not” start activities that cannot be stopped in the middle in case you become tired.
Priorities – Decide what tasks or activities are most important and what is optional.
Plan accordingly and distinguish those activities that must be done by you from those that can be done by others. It is OK to ask for help when you need it.
Pacing – Pace yourself as you complete each task. Take breaks or naps as needed.
Balance activities with rest and relaxation.
Positioning – Use good body mechanics while working. Sit if you can, while doing a task. Push instead of carry. An occupational therapist can help you with additional ways to conserve energy.

Energy Conservation Principles
Work – Rest – Work – Rest

• A slow steady rate of work with short rest periods is best – never work so hard that you experience fatigue.

Heavy – Light – Heavy – Light

• Consider the best time to perform the activity – if the morning is your best time, plan a heavy activity andthen a lighter activity in the afternoon.
  

Organize work areas

• Keep areas neat and tidy to eliminate heavy cleaning and time looking for lost or misplaced items.

Plan work and storage heights

• In order to eliminate excess bending, stooping and reaching – when storing items, store them at point of use; for example: items used on a frequent basis should not be stored in very high or very low cabinets.

Inactivity
Consequences of Inactivity in Cancer Patients

• Fatigue

• Physical deconditioning / weakness

• Muscle wasting

• Joint stiffness/soreness

• Blood clots

• Poor posture

• Immobility

• Pain

• Depression

• Hopelessness

Stress Management

Managing stress can play an important role in combating fatigue. The following are some suggestions:

• Adjust your expectations. For example, if you have a list of 10 things you want to accomplish today, pare it down to two and leave the rest for other days. A sense of accomplishment goes a long way to reducing stress.

• Help others understand and support you. Family and friends can be helpful if they can "put themselves in your shoes" and understand what fatigue means to you. Cancer support groups can be a source of support as well. Other people with cancer understand what you are going through.

Relaxation techniques such as audio tapes that teach deep breathing or visualization can help reduce stress.

Activities that divert your attention away from fatigue can also be helpful. For example, activities such as knitting, reading, or listening to music require little physical energy but require attention.

If your stress seems out of control, talk to a health care professional. They are there to help.

What can I do to minimize and cope with mouth sores?

Chemo & Mouth Sores

Symptoms of mucositis/stomatitus may include: mouth sores, white patches on the tongue, redness or irritation of the mouth and throat, pain when swallowing or the sensation of a lump in the throat, dryness of the mouth, tenderness or burning when eating spicy or acidic foods.

If these suggestions do not control your mouth sores, please contact your healthcare provider.

What can I do to minimize and cope with mouth sores?

• Eating a high protein diet will provide nutrients which may prevent and help repair mouth sores.
  

• Drink high protein liquid drinks such as: Carnation Instant Breakfast, Health Shake, Ensure Plus or Ensure High Protein.
  

• Drink eight glasses of liquids each day. A straw may make drinking easier.

• Eat soft foods such as: puddings, soups, frozen desserts, mashed potatoes, noodles and pasta.
  

• Frequently rinse your mouth with cool water, mint-flavored water, a mild solution of baking soda and water or Aloe Vera mouthwash.
  

• The following medications may be ordered by your physician to help heal and soothe your mouth: Stomatitus Cocktail, Xylocaine Viscous, Mycistatin, Mycelex Troche, Glycgel.
  

• You may want to apply pure liquid Vitamin E directly to mouth sores.

• Carefully prick the end of a Vitamin E capsule, and apply directly to the affected areas. This is sometimes helpful.
  

• Use a soft bristle toothbrush or swab to clean your mouth and teeth. Do not use mouthwashes which contain alcohol.
  

• Do not eat hot, spicy or fried foods. Avoid foods which have acid content, such as: oranges, lemons, grapefruit juice, V-8 Juice, orange juice, pickles.
  

• Limit alcohol, caffeine and chocolate .

Avoid foods which are difficult to chew such as: crackers, apples, toast, and nuts.


Mouth Soreness Smoothie
Smooth Protein Power Shake
Preparation time: 10 minutes .
Serves one.



Ingredients

• 1 cup any liquid (milk , soy milk , rice milk, Boost, Ensure, Boost Plus, or Ensure Plus, or a generic version of one of these products); use more than 1 cup if needed to blend.
  

• ½ cup low-fat, plain yogurt or soy yogurt

• 2 tablespoons protein powder (any type)

• 1 tablespoon peanut butter or almond butt er

• 1 tablespoon canola, almond, or olive oil

• 1 banana

• Crushed ice (optional; can be added if a colder smoothie is desired )

Instructions

• Measure and prepare solid ingredients.

• Place these ingredients in the blender .

• Add liquid ingredients to the blender.

• Blend all of the ingredients together to your desired consistency.

Add additional liquid to the blender if needed to thin out consistency for better
blending. Depending on the strength of your blender, you may need more or less liquid to make the mixture blend.

Per serving*: 831 calories; 90 grams of carbohydrates; 39 grams of protein; 35 grams of fat**; 4 grams of fiber ; 527 milligrams of sodium; 1,480 milligrams of potassium ***

* Made with Boost Plus, Ensure Plus, or a generic version of one of these products .
Calories and protein will be somewhat lower if made with milk, soy milk , rice milk, or another liquid.

** This recipe contains healthy fat from the canola, almond, or olive oil and the peanut or almond butter.

*** If you are on a potassium-restricted diet, this recipe may not be right for you. Ask your doctor or dietitian if you are unsure of your dietary potassium limits.

Managing a Low White Blood Cell Count (Neutropenia)

Managing a Low White Blood Cell Count (Neutropenia) Chemotherapy is usually given in cycles, with periods of rest that give your body time to regain strength and replace healthy cells lost during treatment. However, a low count of infection-fighting white blood cells, or Neutrogena, is a common side effect of certain types of chemotherapy that can disrupt your chemotherapy schedule.

A low white blood cell count means your immune system isn't as strong as it

could be and that you are at increased risk of infection. The fewer white blood

cells you have and the longer you remain without enough, the more at risk you

become for developing a potentially life-threatening infection.

As a result, your doctor may need to delay treatment or reduce your

Chemotherapy dose until your white blood cell count increases and the possibility

of infection is reduced. Under certain circumstances, you may need to be

admitted to the hospital until your infection is cured and your number of white

blood cells returns to levels high enough to fight infections in the future. The good

news is you can prepare for chemotherapy and help lower your risk of infection.

Your doctor has carefully determined your chemotherapy dose and schedule to

produce the best opportunity for a successful outcome. Reducing or altering

either can affect your results. Studies show that for certain types of cancer,

Chemotherapy produces the best results when patients receive the full dose on

schedule.

Diagnosing Infection

Fever is a sign of infection, sometimes the only sign. If you develop a fever

(temperature higher than 100.4°F, or 38°C), notify your doctor immediately.

Infection associated with a low white blood ce lclount can be life-threatening.

An infection can occur in any number of places throughout the body. Specific

symptoms can indicate the site of your infection and help target your treatment.

Location Symptoms

• Bladder Painful urination
• Gastrointestinal tract Diarrhea, cramping
• Rectum Rectal bleeding, pain while defecating
• Respiratory system Cough, congestion, yellow or green sputum (fluid

coughed up from lungs)

• Sinus Sinus pain, congestion, headache
• Skin Redness, pain, tenderness or swelling near a cu t
• Systemic (throughout body) Flu-like symptoms
• 
  

Preventing Infection

Given the option, most patients would prefer to prevent infection rather than have

to deal with its results. Your first line of defense should always be prevention.

Take these simple but effective steps to help protect yourself against infection:

• Always wash your hands with soap and plenty of water. Many infections

are transmitted through hands and things that you touch, such as

doorknobs. Washing your hands thoroughly is the most important thing

you can do to prevent infection .

• Avoid people with colds or the flu .

• Avoid large crowds to reduce the likelihood of coming into contact with

sick people.

• Bathe daily and carefully dry your skin.

• Take steps to prevent cuts or scrapes, as these provide entry points for

Infection.

• Use an electric razor instead of a blade to avoid cuts.

• Use caution with sharp objects.

• Wear gloves when possible.

• If you have a cut or scrape, keep it covered with a clean bandage until it

heals.

• Prevent cracks in your skin by using lotion.

• Cook your food thoroughly to kill any potential microorganisms that may

be on raw food.

Prepare yourself for chemotherapy by lowering your risk for infection .

Be Proactive Against Infection and Treatment Interruptions

http://www.MedTrakker.com