Question

A 66-year-old man is receiving radiation therapy and chemotherapy for the treatment of small cell lung cancer. The nurse has assessed him many times since he was admitted to the hospital. This morning, he admits that his greatest challenge he is currently facing is his overwhelming fatigue. How should the nurse respond to this patient's statement?

Answer 1

Answer:

The nurse should explain the side effects of the threatment to her patient.

Explanation:

Chemotherapy and radiation can cause hair loss, mouth sores, loss of appetite, weight loss, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipatio, infections, bruising and fatigue.

The fatigue occurs because the red blood cell counts drops during the threatment.