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Cancer Fatigue: What is it?

Dated : 18th February 2015

While dealing with any form of cancer treatments, there can be some side effects that become a problem in the process. One of these side effects is called cancer fatigue. Fatigue is when you feel tired and/or weak. This can result because of multiple factors including the cancer, the pain, and poor nutrition. Cancer changes the body in many ways which can lead to fatigue. One way is releasing proteins called cytokines.

According to News Medical, cytokines are "cell signaling molecules that aid cell to cell communication in immune responses and stimulate the movement of cells towards sites of inflammation, infection and trauma." Therefore, they might be a cause for fatigue for the body. Also, increase the body's need for energy which leads to fatigue.

Another reason for cancer fatigue is the pain. With cancer, comes pain. If you experience chronic pain, then chances are you are less active. You might also eat less and sleep less. All of this leads to cancer fatigue. The next cause of fatigue would be poor nutrition. As mentioned before, cancer causes your body to need more energy. It also changes the way your body processes nutrients, either needing more or less than before having cancer. This change in the processing of nutrients causes your body to feel weak or tired. Pain, poor nutrition, and the cancer itself are some reasons why you may have cancer fatigue.

Works Cited

1. "Cancer." Fatigue: Why It Occurs and How to Cope. Mayo Clinic Staff, 30 July 2014. Web. 19 Feb. 2015. http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/cancer/in-depth/cancer-fatigue/art-20047709.

2. Mandal, Dr. Ananya, MD. "What Are Cytokines?" News-Medical.net. News Medical, 11 Dec. 2009. Web. 19 Feb. 2015. http://www.news-medical.net/health/What-are-Cytokines.aspx.

3. N.d. ALEXANDER C. CHESTER, MD. Web. 19 Feb. 2015. http://alexandercchestermd.com/category/conditions/chronic-fatigue.