Fact 7. Fatigue as a Long-Term Impact of Thyroid Cancer
It’s a common assumption that once cancer treatment concludes, life can go back to normal. However, many cancer survivors, including those who have battled thyroid cancer, continue to grapple with lingering side effects, including fatigue. Studies have shown that fatigue can persist for months or even years after the completion of treatment, adding another layer to the complex interplay between thyroid cancer and fatigue.
Post-treatment fatigue can stem from several sources. The physical trauma of surgery and the effects of radiation or chemotherapy can take a long time to fully recover from.
Additionally, the psychological impact of living through cancer can contribute to long-term fatigue. Anxiety about recurrence, changes in body image, or adjustments to a “new normal” can take a significant mental toll.
Moreover, thyroid cancer survivors often require lifelong medication to replace the thyroid hormones that their bodies can no longer produce. The process of finding the right dosage of these medications can be tricky. (7)
