Dealing with symptoms and side effects

Surgical techniques and anaesthetics have improved greatly over the past years, so surgery| isn’t usually a problem for older people. Radiotherapy| techniques and chemotherapy| drugs have also progressed, and side effects can be well controlled.

Pain Back to top

You may be used to living with aches and pains from other conditions, such as arthritis, but there are lots of ways to help manage pain| from cancer. Tell your doctors or nurses about any pain, so that they can give you appropriate medicines to control it.

When painkillers such as morphine are given as treatment they do not cause addiction. It’s important to take painkillers regularly as prescribed, so that the pain is kept under control.

Breathlessness Back to top

Some types of cancer can cause breathlessness|. Sometimes this can occur due to cancer treatment. If you already had chest problems before the cancer, for example if you smoke or have bronchitis or asthma, this often makes breathlessness more of a problem. There are many ways of dealing with breathlessness.

Sometimes oxygen treatment makes breathing easier, and, if necessary, your doctor can arrange for you to have oxygen to use at home.

Sickness Back to top

If you feel sick (nauseous), or have trouble keeping food down, your doctor can prescribe an anti-sickness drug. There are different types available and some of them can be combined if one is not effective on its own. Anti-sickness medicines should be taken regularly to prevent the nausea returning.

We have more information about controlling nausea and vomiting|.

Eating problems Back to top

Loss of appetite or difficulty eating may be due to the cancer itself or can be a side effect of treatment. Small, frequent, simple meals, including your favourite foods, are likely to be most tempting.

We have more information about coping with eating problems|.

Tiredness (fatigue) Back to top

Fatigue| (feeling exhausted all or most of the time) is a common and difficult problem for people living with cancer. It may be due to the cancer, cancer treatment, or it may be a result of coping with other symptoms. If you feel tired it’s important to pace yourself and try to save your energy for the things that you enjoy. If people offer to help you, let them deal with tiring tasks. Your doctors may be able to help treat the fatigue, and there are ways of helping yourself cope with tiredness. Fatigue may be a major problem if you are looking after a partner, relative or friend.