Managing common symptoms and side effects

We discuss the best ways to support someone with cancer manage common symptoms and side effects.

Learn more about managing side effects of:

• Pain
• Fatigue
• Breathlessness
• Nausea and loss of appetite

Pain

• Support the person with cancer to use pain medicines appropriately. Immediate release medicines work quickly but for a few hours. Slow release medicines provide pain control for a longer period of time, often 12–24 hours.
• If the pain is hard to manage, when you give pain medicine keep a record of the dose and time so you can discuss this with the treatment team. It may take time to find the right pain medicine.
• Always talk to the doctor before stopping or changing the dose.
• Use a pain scale or pain diary to help you and the person you are caring for understand how strong the pain is and the need for extra doses of pain medicine.
• Try hot water bottles or heat packs (check the temperature first), ice packs or gentle massage to relieve pain and discomfort.
• Complementary therapies such as massage or meditation may help.

For more on this, see Pain and cancer and listen to our podcast on Managing cancer pain.

Fatigue

• Help the person to set small, manageable goals for the day. Suggest they take regular breaks before they become too tired.
• Encourage the person to prioritise activities that they enjoy.
• Find ways for the person to do some gentle physical activity every day – research shows that exercise can reduce fatigue. Talk to the treatment team about what sort of exercise would be suitable. This may include walking or strength- training exercises. See an exercise physiologist or a physiotherapist for other suggestions.
• Help them set up a calm sleeping environment. Ensure the room is dark, quiet and a comfortable temperature. Soothing music or relaxation tracks help some people sleep.
• Investigate services that can help with household chores, cooking or gardening.

For more on this, see Fatigue and cancer and listen to our podcast on Managing cancer fatigue.

Breathlessness

• Use a handheld fan to direct a stream of air across the person’s face.
• Place a pillow on a table so the person can lean forward with an arm crossed over the pillow – this allows their breathing muscles to relax.
• Set up a recliner chair to help the person sleep in a more upright position.
• Offer regular drinks throughout the day. Dehydration can contribute to breathlessness.
• Talk to the treatment team about breathing exercises, equipment and ways to manage breathlessness.
• Maintain a calm atmosphere, when possible, as anxiety can make breathlessness worse.
• Ask a doctor or GP about seeing a psychologist to help manage anxiety.
• Encourage them to try relaxation and meditation techniques to help reduce anxiety.

Listen to our Finding Calm During Cancer podcast.

Nausea and loss of appetite

• Focus on creating a pleasant atmosphere for meals, sitting together and talking.
• Celebrate how much the person eats rather than comment on how much is not finished.
• Encourage the person you are caring for to ask their doctor for different anti-nausea medicines until they find one that works well for them.
• Offer the person their favourite meal or well-tolerated foods often. Most people don’t need a strict diet during cancer treatment, though you should follow the advice of the health professionals.
• Offer small meals or snacks every 2–3 hours during the day.
• Provide regular drinks to help the person avoid becoming dehydrated.
• If the person you care for is losing weight or feels too nauseated to eat, talk to their doctor. The person may need medicine changes or a review by a dietitian or pharmacist to arrange dietary supplements.

For more on this, see Nutrition and cancer and listen to our podcast on Appetite loss and nausea.

→ READ MORE: Managing medicines safely

Podcast: How to Help Someone with Cancer

Listen to more of our podcast for people affected by cancer