Treating Chemotherapy-induced Fatigue with Exercise - Essay Example

The literature regarding the use of exercise as a therapy for CRF has established a strong foundation for its beneficial use and develops a case for exercise as a promising alternative, to other available techniques in counteracting fatigue problems. The main reason for choosing this topic, lies in the patient-centric themes being addressed, something that deserves top priority in Nursing Research. Patients with cancer say that fatigue is a major obstacle to functioning normally and having a good Quality of Life (Portenoy & Itri, 1999).

Clearly, this is a subject area that strikes them at their core, and adequate research is needed, to better understand patient needs for this sensitive issue. To elaborate further on the significance of the topic for Nursing profession, it may be recalled that fatigue, in general, is a highly pervasive symptom for patients with cancer problems at advanced stages A clear understanding of the etiology of fatigue is needed to intervene appropriately, so a comprehensive assessment of fatigue must be multidimensional, evaluating both the physical and psychological aspects of the study area.

From a historical standpoint, caregivers have faced severe trials, anxiously handling difficult cases, where patients have braved excruciating pain, lasting weeks, months, sometimes years. Also, of importance is the pain caused due to actual surgery, the effects of anesthesia, sedatives or analgesics, that compound the problem of fatigue. In few of the literature critiques examined for this review, test results are used to corroborate the main research aim: to explore positive correlation between exercise techniques, and reduction in fatigue problems.

To gauge the importance of the topic, at an interactive level, I shall draw upon my own experience in dealing with patients during clinical rotations, after they were administered chemotherapy. I saw first-hand, how even mild doses of radiation, had an adverse impact on the patient's energy levels, and graduated to a perpetual cycle of inactivity, which simply prolongs treatment, in spite of world-class medical care at disposal. It makes common-sense to appreciate the fact, that a simplistic routine of exercise, can change the dynamics of the depressing scale, to which fatigue can frustrate caregiving efforts.

The adage "just take it easy and rest" is applicable to a common case of mild flu, but when it comes to intangible trials in the realm of life-threatening cases such as Cancer, a patient's life may be jeopardized by an oversimplification of the after-treatment needs. I can vouchsafe the suitability of routine exercise, as a practical and reliable means of effecting better care to patients battling CRF. Based on personal observation, and that of other member in my Nursing team, it has been documented that doing some activity, can actually reduce fatigue.

The data for our research was based on operations in a controlled environment. This is where the research dwindles to limitations, as it is not