Many cancer patients develop short-term symptoms due to their disease or its treatment. Cancer growth damages healthy tissues around the tumor, leading to a number of unpleasant effects. In addition, the aggressive treatments required to control many cancers can have a profound effect on the body, causing numerous side effects during treatment. These short-term effects of cancer often prove difficult for cancer patients, but thankfully often relieve themselves once the cancer is under control.
Fatigue
A common short-term effect patients notice with cancer is abnormal fatigue, that occurs in up to 96 percent of cancer patients, according to the National Cancer Institute. This may occur due to cancer treatments or due to the cancer growth itself. Fatigue due to cancer growth is considered chronic, and is not completely relieved by adequate sleep and rest. The National Cancer Institute indicates that some cancer therapies, such as chemotherapy and radiation therapy can increase fatigue during treatment. Getting adequate rest and avoiding physically taxing activities can help avoid worsening fatigue due to cancer growth. In many cases, fatigue improves after cancer treatment.
Nausea and Anorexia
Other common short-term effects of cancer, as well as cancer treatment, are nausea and anorexia. Cancers of the digestive organs especially can decrease a patient's drive to eat, leading to sustained anorexia. In severe cases, these cancers can eventually lead to malnutrition from not ingesting adequate nutrients. Additionally, cancer treatments such as chemotherapy or radiation can cause nausea and lead to anorexia. The National Cancer Institute notes that maintaining a proper balanced diet can help cancer patients fight their disease. In addition, patients may receive nausea medication to support a regular diet and avoid malnutrition. These symptoms often relieve themselves after cancer treatments end.
Pain
A very common short-term effect of cancer is pain. Cancer growth involves damage to healthy tissues at the perimeter of the tumor, as the cancer cells seek out and damage surrounding cells. In addition, cancerous growth can place pressure on surrounding nerve tissue, leading to pain while the cancer grows. As a result, many cancer patients receive painkiller medications to increase their quality of life during treatment. Although in rare cases cancer patients may experience more long-term pain after cancer treatment, in many cases the pain from cancer growth eases after treatment and can be effectively controlled with medication.
