Cancer - no energy?

Liv09

Hey all, to cut a long story short my Dad was diagnosed with Colon, Liver and Lung Cancer last June. We were all very shocked to say the least especially himself. As you can imagine its severity could only be treated with Chemo. We knew it wasn't going to get rid of it but to keep it at bay was the only thing we could hope for. Just to tell you that it was himself that made the decision to have the Chemo. Anyway, it started off well but after each session it made him ill and eventually he decided not to have anymore. Just to point out my Dad was 79 when diagnosed. He turned 80 in February just gone. He has been in and out of hospital with sickness over the last year but seems to be doing ok at the moment, except for the total loss of energy. I know its something that comes with the Cancer and can get worse.

So with all my waffling above what I was wondering did anyone/family member go through the same thing with regards to the tiredness? And if they had taken a tonic or pick me up or some sort? I know some people may suggest steroids but they are only a short term solution. He has his good days and bad days, but the last two have been bad. I just don't like to see him like this and I'm afraid that he might be decide to give up altogether.

Any info or suggestion would be greatly appreciate. Thanks for taking the time to ready and reply :-)

Carpenter

Hi
I will make this short my wife has cancer of the spine its called triple negative cancer and some days she has no energy and other days she some I will ask her what she takes and get back to you .
But remember he is 80 so he will have less energy anyway (Just saying)

cocker5

Really sorry to hear your situation OP, and your dad too…..
it’s not tiredness per say, its chronic fatigue OP….. it has nothing to do with “giving up” etc. it’s when they body (and mind) have already been through so much its needs to rest.

My mum had cancer, and over the months she too got more and more tired until there came a time where even lifting a glass of water was too much, all I can say OP is all you can do is be there for him and help him when he needs it.
Cancer is a horrible, horrible disease and even though he is trying to fight it (and hopefully he does) it does takes its toll. The body needs lots of rest to try and recoup some of the lost energy he has used trying to get better.

IMO I wouldn’t push him (not saying you are or anything) to get up etc….. I would just try and help him, comfort him etc… I really hope he gets through this!

Cancer takes is toll both physically and mentally he is probably totally exhausted over what has happened over the last 11 months…

Take care

delw

Hi OP sorry to hear your troubles.As a cancer patient i suffer with the fatigue,some days are ok & some im just tired without doing anything but cancer affects everyone different.I started radiotherapy on brain tumors exactly a year ago for three weeks every day & only after did the fatigue kick in .Im on steriods (very small dose now)to shrink the tumors which affect my leg muscles & chemo tabs which makes me tired but i found a regular routine of resting helps me.Sorry can't be of any more help but if you have any questions just ask.Hope all goes well for you & your dad

WildRosie

Hi OP, so sorry to hear about your dad. Mine was diagnosed with oesophageal cancer about a month ago and just started chemo. In the run up to the diagnosis he was very fatigued, went from walking 50-60km a week to struggling to walk 400m to the shop for the paper and sleeping for hours during the day. However, a lot of his fatigue seems to have been related to his physical inability to eat (tumour blocking the entrance to his stomach). His oncology nurse prescribed calogen (and lots of ice cream) and now his intake has gone from ~400 calories/day to ~1500. The chemo and steroids also seem to have had a prompt effect on the tumour making it easier to eat. As a result of all of these things his energy has improved. Is your dad eating well? And is his diet being supplemented with calogen/ensure/fortisip if needed?

Having said all that, your dad is 80, a great age really and a drop in energy is to be expected at that age. He seems to have done really well with cancer that is so widespread. My advice would be to try and ensure he's getting enough calories and fluids into him and encourage him to rest when he needs to so that he has a bit more energy during the day.

Cancer is such a horrible disease and it's such a shock to hear your loved one diagnosed with it. My dad is only 58 and to hear the words stage 4, inoperable, terminal and palliative when this only started 3 months ago and he's always been the picture of health is just cruel.

Wishing you and your dad the very best.

cocker5

WildRosie,

I am really sorry to hear about your dad XX

My Mum was only 58 too when diagonsed stage 4 pancreatic cancer, inoperable, terminal and palliative care were dicussed from her first week of diagnoses and your right its very very cruel. She only had two rounds of chemo before they stopped her treatment and she passed away 18 weeks after she was diagnosed... its so heartbreaking and soul destroying
to see your loved one (and at 58 its faaaaar too young) suffering, I hope your dad is doing ok XX all you can do is be as positive as you can and believe me i know its very very hard at times.

Take care of yourself in these difficult times XX

WildRosie

Thanks so much Cocker5, so sorry to hear about your mum, what a terrible situation and to lose her in such a short space of time. Thankfully, so far anyway, dad is tolerating the chemo great and feels better in himself already. He's in good form and the fact that he's starting to be able to eat again is really helping his energy and mood. Family and friends and neighbours are being wonderful and realising how much he's loved and valued is helping too. Plus, he had been taking solpadeine for the pain which hadn't been doing much, now that he's on oxycodone, he's feeling a lot better. The doctor is confident that'll he have 'long months to short years' of good quality of life and relatively good health. Please God she's right and you never know, he could be one of the few that bucks the trends and do even better than that

fakedel

Hi, I have had cancer twice since 2012 and am now undergoing radiation. I'm in my mid-40s though, much younger than your dad, but even so tiredness is an ongoing issue despite exercise and generally eating well.

Pretty much anyone I've spoken to (healthcare pros and sufferers) and anything I've read, points to the fact that an "additional" tiredness over and above general fatigue accompanies cancer and broadly speaking, it isn't understood too well.

There are some things that are worth looking at though that may help. There is some stuff from cancerreasearchuk.org that is worth a read. (I can't post the URL because I'm a new user) Look up "Tiredness with cancer (fatigue)" on the site.

Also there's also an excellent YouTube video: "Cancer Related Fatigue" by Doc Mike Evans.

Unfortunately, this extra fatigue goes with the territory and from what I've found, listening to your body is the best way to cope. Even if occasionally your mind disagrees!

I hope this is of some help. Best of luck to your dad.

Frito

My mam's been in remission for 18 months now and her fatigue is considerably worse, to the point where she can no longer walk (she could during and straight after chemo).
Although fatigue is a common side-effect, my motto is to keep telling the docs though your dad's have probably done the routine blood tests and assessments to rule out any other causes.
Apart from that, I don't have any other advice except to keep on top of diet, elimination, some meaningful activity (something he enjoys, not necessarily exercise) and meaningful rest periods. All the best to him.

CathyMoran

Was diagnosed with oesophageal in 2006 when I was 32. I found the chemo tough. After my first one my brother got me a profesional back massage and I found that gave me strengh. i used to have something to look forward to before I started the next batch of chemo which perked me up to.

I still get fatigue.

mickman

its threads like this that make me reliase what a little girl i am when i complain about simple things - i dont mean that i get a kick from reading this or anything . I just mean that there are some things in life which just dont matter and then there are things that do i.e. health