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The phenomenon first came to light because of the large number of breast cancer survivors who complained of changes in memory, fluency, and other cognitive abilities that impeded their ability to function as they had pre-chemotherapy. [2] Although the causes and existence of post-chemotherapy cognitive impairment have been a subject of debate ...
Experiencing fatigue before treatment, being depressed or anxious, getting too little exercise, and having other medical conditions are all associated with higher levels of fatigue in post-treatment cancer survivors. [2] Receiving multiple types of treatments, such as chemotherapy and radiation, is associated with more fatigue. [3]
These symptoms generally begin with the or third cycle of treatment and can last long after treatment completion. Indeed, the “coasting” phenomenon mentioned in the Symptoms section is a direct effect of platinum agents. Of the platinum compounds, research has shown cisplatin to be the most frequently involved in peripheral neuropathy. [3]
Fatigue may be a consequence of the cancer or its treatment, and can last for months to years after treatment. One physiological cause of fatigue is anemia, which can be caused by chemotherapy, surgery , radiotherapy , primary and metastatic disease or nutritional depletion.
This may include fatigue, unintentional weight loss, or skin changes. [34] Some cancers can cause a systemic inflammatory state that leads to ongoing muscle loss and weakness, known as cachexia. [35] Some cancers, such as Hodgkin's disease, leukemias, and liver or kidney cancers, can cause a persistent fever. [32]
In the brain, serotonin is a neurotransmitter and regulates arousal, behavior, sleep, and mood, among other things. [9] During prolonged exercise where central nervous system fatigue is present, serotonin levels in the brain are higher than normal physiological conditions; these higher levels can increase perceptions of effort and peripheral muscle fatigue. [9]
The chemical changes associated with infection of a tumor or its surrounding tissue can cause rapidly escalating pain, but infection is sometimes overlooked as a possible cause. One study [ 25 ] found that infection was the cause of pain in four percent of nearly 300 people with cancer who were referred for pain relief.
Pressure on the kidney or ureter from a tumor outside the kidney can cause extreme flank pain. Local recurrence of cancer after the removal of a kidney can cause pain in the lumbar back, or L1 or L2 spinal nerve pain in the groin or upper thigh, accompanied by weakness and numbness of the iliopsoas muscle, exacerbated by activity.