Question

A client with breast cancer is being seen during her treatment and reports to the nurse that she has experienced extreme fatigue over the past few days. Which information represents a clinical sign that may be considered as the etiology of the client's fatigue?

Answer 1

The extreme fatigue experienced by the breast cancer patient could be a result of anemia or cachexia, both of which are common in cancer patients due to the disease or treatments such as chemotherapy.

Step-by-step explanation:

A client with breast cancer experiencing extreme fatigue may have this symptom due to several clinical reasons. Given that fatigue is a common side effect of cancer and its treatments, looking at anemia as a potential etiology is reasonable. Anemia in cancer patients can be caused by the cancer itself through blood loss or malnutrition, or as a side effect of the treatment, such as chemotherapy. This condition leads to a reduced volume of red blood cells, decreasing oxygen delivery to tissues, resulting in fatigue. Other potential causes for the client's fatigue might include the tumor's metabolic demands leading to cachexia (wasting), the psychological stress of battling cancer, or side effects from medications or other therapies.