Dear Gramps

Thank you for getting in touch and welcome to the online community. I’m Isobel one of the Cancer Information Nurse Specialist, on the Macmillan Support Line.

I can see that you have joined our lung cancer forum I hope that you are finding this welcoming and supportive.

It is only natural that you would want to support you wife while she is having her chemotherapy. It must be a difficult time for both of you.

Fatigue is very common in people with cancer. Research suggests cancer related fatigue affects a large number of people.  For many, it can be the most troubling symptom of treatment and the most disruptive side effect of all.

Chemotherapy related fatigue can be due to the systemic nature of this treatment. This is because most chemotherapy drugs affect red blood cells, causing levels to drop between treatments. Low levels of red blood cells is called anaemia. It is also because the body is continually using energy to repair itself.

When your wife next attends for her treatment she should let her chemotherapy team know how she is feeling. She can ask if her blood tests are showing any signs of anaemia, and ask for an assessment of her fatigue.

Unfortunately, there is no medication available at present that will take away fatigue, and there is no simple answer. Researchers are looking at several types of drugs to help improve cancer fatigue. More research is needed to understand how well these drugs work. Steroids are sometimes used in the short term, but it would depend on the circumstances and would have to be prescribed by her doctors if after assessment they felt she would benefit.

However, there are things that you could do together that may help, and prevent this from worsening. Simple things such as taking short walks as able and keeping generally active. This link will give you more information, about strategies that could help.

Please know that you can contact our helpline and speak to one of our cancer information nurses if you need to discuss this in more detail. Sometimes a 2-way conversation can be very beneficial when there is so much going on.

Best wishes,

Isobel Y, Cancer Information Nurse Specialist 

Ref:IY/JF