A Patient’s Guide to Understanding
Cutaneous Lymphoma
32
Physical Limitations During Treatment
Many patients experience fatigue or depression during their treatment
course. Knowing this is a real possibility helps you prepare for such an
outcome by seeking out the help of a therapist to talk with during treatment
and altering your schedule to account for reduced energy levels.
Healthcare providers are likely to ask if you have trouble falling asleep, if
you have bad dreams and nightmares, and if you’re feeling blue or tired.
Don’t be afraid to seek out anti-depressants to ease such side effects.
Some treatment medications can actually induce depression. Integrative
modalities and pharmacological solutions are available to help you through.
Pace yourself. Do not overload your schedule with commitments. Try
to postpone any non-essential appointments until your treatment course
finishes.
Don’t Believe Everything You Read
In this information age, many patients read research related to their disease
on the Internet before ever meeting with their healthcare team. There is
so much information out there, and the Internet does not discern between
your particular situation and other conditions. Information can be
scary – especially if it is not specifically related to your case. Try to resist the
temptation to dig out any and all information online. Educate yourself with
the resources your physician recommends and ignore the rest. Hospital-
approved patient education materials give you a window into the world
of your specific situation, the therapies available to you and approved by
your providers, and the outcomes you can anticipate. The Cutaneous
Lymphoma Foundation is a very good source of information about
treatment options and the latest therapies.
Please refer to our website for
additional and updated information
about treatment options & treatment
centers:
