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Cancer Side Effects and Advice |
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Introduction
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Control of pain and fatigue is very important, as they can limit your feeling of well-being and your functional activity level.
There are many side effects, both psychological and physical, such as hair loss, anemia, cognitive problems, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, neuropathies (burning, pain, numbness, and tingling. in hands and feet), or muscular weakness and balance problems.
Care in avoiding falls is very important. Sterility and menstrual dysfunction are constant problems needing attention, as is general body care, including skin care and controlling flu-like symptoms which require supportive care.
Patients receiving cancer surgery need not only to have control of pain and fatigue, but also specialty care from the treating surgeon is also vital.
Brain Cancer
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Following brain surgery, cognitive issues, weakness, appetite changes, sleep pattern problems, and nausea are common.
Breast Cancer
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Following breast surgery, appropriate exercise programs with limitations of shoulder motion, initially, and nutrition advice including weight control and loss of appetite. In addition fatigue and pain are problems needing attention.
Breast cancer specific concerns
Depression was measured by the Beck Depression Inventory-II, and the revised Piper Fatigue Scale was used to measure fatigue. Aerobic fitness was measured by a walking test on a treadmill.
Exercise
A study in England at the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow, which studied aerobic exercise therapy on quality of life for women with breast cancer. One hundred eight women treated for breast cancer were randomly assigned to a supervised aerobic therapy exercise program (34), exercise - placebo body conditioning (36), or usual care (38). This was an eight-week program with attendance three times a week, which studied quality of life, depression, aerobic fitness, and exercise behavior.
The basic conclusion was that supervised aerobic exercise therapy intervention did improve quality of life versus usual care.
It was also stated that improved QOL resulting from an exercise program benefited women during and following breast cancer therapy. Physical function is considered an important component of quality of life for cancer patients and not only promotes better health and recovery but may help reduce the risk of co-morbidities and promote longevity.Physical conditioning did improve in the exercise group, as well as psychological self-worth. It was also felt that attention directed efforts help promote psychological benefits for those participating in the exercise program.
The outcome favored aerobic exercise therapy at eight weeks versus usual care, tested by Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy - Breast - a survey assessing social/family well-being, functional well-being, and breast subscale scores at eight weeks follow up. There was improvement in psychological study outcomes in both intervention groups, which was sustained. Their conclusion was that exercise therapy had clinical, meaningful significance with short-term benefits in quality of life. It is one of the few randomized studies.
- Discussion With improvement in survival, a breast cancer patient and additional supportive care programs are not only necessary but help improve quality of life. It can also help improve physical and psychological health status, as benefits from exercise are well known and accepted. This study was assessed by the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy - General (FACT-G), and the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy - Breast (FACT-B), which measured five aspects of quality of life:
- 1. Physical well-being
2. Functional well-being
3. Emotional well-being
4. Social/family well-being
Reference:
Daley, A. J., Crank, H., Saxton, J. M., et. Al., J Clin Oncol, 25: 1713-1721, 2007, "Randomized Trial of Exercise Therapy in Women Treated for Breast Cancer."
Colon Cancer
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After colon surgery, there is often a decrease in food-nutrient absorption due to partial or complete loss of the colon, and bowel problems are often predominate with diarrhea, dehydration, milk intolerance, constipation, gas, and abdominal cramping pain. With rectal surgery, constipation, loss of appetite, rectal pressure and often a burning sensation are noted.
Lung Cancer
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Following lung surgery, fatigue, loss of appetite and shortness of breath problems need attention.
A new report from the University of Minnesota and the University of Pennsylvania noted that physical activity reduced the risk of developing lung cancer in current and former smokers.
There are few reports on the association of lung cancer and physical exercise/activity, since it is well-known that stopping smoking helps prevent lung cancer. In studies from the Iowa Women's Health Study of 36,000 women (1986-2002), there were 777 lung cancer case participants, of which 125 occurred in non-smokers, 177 in former smokers and 475 in current smokers.
Moderate workouts four times a week or vigorous workouts two or more times a week showed that 23% of those who exercised were less likely to develop lung cancer versus more sedentary women. Of note is that a higher level of physical activity did reduce the lung cancer risk by 28% in current smokers and 37% in former smokers. There was no relationship to lung cancer in those who never smoked. The conclusion was that physical activity may reduce lung cancer risk in women, who are former or current smokers, and this group should be encouraged to quit smoking. Smoking is the major determinate for lung cancer.
Reference
Journal Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers & Prevention "The Association of Physical Activity with Lung Cancer Incidence in a Cohort of Older Women: The Iowa Women's Health Study" Vol. 15, 2359-2363, December 2006
Pancreatic Cancer
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With pancreatic surgery, fat intolerance, constipation, bloating, increased blood sugars and gas problems are common.
Prostate Cancer
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After prostate cancer surgery, sexual dysfunction, urinary changes, fatigue, loss of appetite and pain are common problems that need attention.
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