Cancer-related fatigue is systemic, affecting the entire body. It can make you feel exhausted, even when there’s no clear reason, or feel “paralyzing tiredness.”
“Cancer-related fatigue is a type of exhaustion that does not get better with sleep,” says Armendariz.
She notes that factors such as cancer treatments, mental health complications, stress, insomnia, chronic pain, and even just keeping up with your daily routine can all exacerbate cancer-related fatigue. Additionally, anyone undergoing radiation may experience cumulative fatigue generally lasting several weeks after treatment.
LEMS-related weakness generally occurs in the upper legs and hips (though upper arms and shoulders may also be affected). You might struggle with getting up from chairs, climbing stairs, walking, lifting, and pushing. Heaviness, general fatigue, and even facial weakness, including while swallowing and chewing, are also common.
With LEMS weakness, symptoms can improve for a brief moment. Christopher Nance, MD, a neurologist with University of Iowa Health Care in Iowa City, who specializes in neuromuscular diseases, says that those with LEMS often feel a very brief respite (seconds to minutes) from their weakness after doing a small amount of exercise. This is often referred to as the “warm-up” or “facilitation” effect.
If you notice your weakness or fatigue feels like it improves temporarily, and is located mainly in specific areas, it’s likely related to LEMS. Let your care team know so they can figure out the best approach to manage this.