Purpose | Principles | How to Care for a Patient in Pain | Nutrition
Nausea and Vomiting | Constipation | Anxiety and Depression | Dyspnea
Fatigue | End-of-Life Decision-Making | Community Resources
How to Refer Patients | Communication | Links and References
Palliation of Fatigue
| Cause |
Diagnostic |
Treatment Examples |
| Fever |
microbiology |
antibiotics
IV hydration
Aceaminophen
NSAIDs |
| Metabolic |
diabetic
hypercalcemia
hypothyroidism
hyperthyroidism
adrenal insufficiency |
zometa-hypercalcemia of malignancy |
| Electrolyte disturbances |
hyponatremia
-- due to lung disease
SIADH
hypokalemia
hypomagnesemia |
demeclocycline
fluid restriction
potassium-sparing diuretics
potassium supplements
magnesium oxide (oral)
MgSO4-IV |
| Respiratory insufficiency |
improve oxidation
reduce breathing workload |
oxygen
assisted-ventilation devices |
| Hematologic |
source of anemia |
PRBC transfusion
Procrit
Epogen (erythropoietin)
Aranesp (darbopoietin) |
| Rheumatologic |
rheumatoid arthritis
fibromyalgia |
NSAIDs
corticosteroids |
| Psychological |
often clustered with anxiety and depression |
anti-anxiety drugs
antidepressants |
Anorexia-cachexia
syndrome |
associated with cancer and its treatments |
Megace (megesterol acetate)
Provigil (modafinil)
Marinol (dronabinol)
nutritional supplements |
General Measures
- Nutrition
- Graded exercise, especially walking
- Occupational therapy
- Physical therapy
- Yoga
- Recreational activities
- Support groups
- Music therapy
- Establish regular wake and sleep patterns
Cancer Education & Information Center | 3015 N. Ballas Road | St. Louis, Missouri 63131 USA | 314.996.5800