Symptom 8. Fatigue: The Exhausting Reality
Fatigue, characterized by an overwhelming sense of tiredness and lack of energy, is another symptom that can be associated with PSCCT. This isn’t the usual tiredness that everyone experiences after a long day of work or lack of sleep. It’s a persistent, debilitating exhaustion that doesn’t improve with rest and can severely affect a person’s ability to function normally.
In the context of PSCCT, fatigue can be a direct or indirect symptom. Indirectly, other symptoms like persistent coughing, difficulty swallowing, or pain can disrupt sleep and daily activities, leading to fatigue.
More directly, cancer-related fatigue is a well-documented phenomenon. The National Cancer Institute (NCI) describes it as the most common side effect of cancer, affecting almost all patients at some point. (8)
