Patient Services Team's Blog | Fatigue. It happens.

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Fatigue. It happens.

Posted by: Patient Services Team on February 15, 2010 at 11:36AM UEDT

A few months ago, I was talking with a patient at a conference and I asked her what she was struggling with. “I’m tired ALL the time,” she answered without a moment’s hesitation. As a working mom, a wife, and someone running a household, she was not accustomed to feeling so tired. In the past, she didn’t have time to be tired. But now, she told me, “I can’t get past it.”

Her story may be like yours. Fatigue is so common in the cancer world that it ranks among the biggest quality of life concerns for people with cancer. For brain tumor patients, fatigue can be overwhelming. Not only do patients experience the so-called cancer-related fatigue, but they may also experience cognitive changes that add to the exhaustion.

Too often, health professionals forget to ask about this important symptom. And patients may not bring up the fatigue they experience, either. They don’t know what is causing their fatigue, and may not expect that there is anything that can be done to help.

The effects of fatigue go beyond the physical. Being fatigued may leave you feeling down—not having enough energy to play with your kids, perform at your job, or participate in all the things you used to do. You may feel like your life is no longer your own and that you are not yourself. Life after a brain tumor may take some adjustment, and we’re here to help you find the resources you need to move forward.

This week we are focusing on fatigue to help you learn more about what you CAN do to combat your fatigue—and we also want to hear from you about your own experiences dealing with fatigue. What has worked for you? What tips can you share with others?

Harriet Patterson, MPH
Director of Patient Services

Send This | Categories: Symptom Management

(2) Comments

Posted by: ppearl214 on February 18, 2010 7:45AM UEDT

Hi Harriet. As a patient of Brigham/Woman's in Boston, I found this brochure, which was written by Dr. Peter Black (NS at B/W) and Nancy-Conn Levin.

www.brainsciencefoundation.org/matriarch/documents/bt_and_fatigue.pdf

In reading this brochure for benign and malignant BT, they make terrific discussion as to why fatigue occurs and ways to combat the fatigue. I ran into extreme fatigue initally post radiation and found the info in the brochure, such as rest as needed, diet and most of all, exercise routines (to help boost the endorphines) a true help for me. My fatigue lasted a good, solid 9 mos post radiation but have found that now, almost 4 years later, that it only rears its head from time to time.

Thanks for posting this question.
Phyl

Posted by: Harriet at NBTS on February 22, 2010 3:46PM UEDT

Thanks so much for sharing that resource, Phyl! It sounds like you did a great job understanding what would help you best cope. Glad to hear that the fatigue has settled down for you now. Thanks for reading and writing back!