Symptom management: Weakness, fatigue and loss of appetite

This module focuses on effective management of weakness, fatigue and loss of appetite as a symptom of palliative care.

This VUCCnet e-learning course focuses on the core principles and best practice for delivering effective palliative care in Africa. It has been developed in partnership with the African Palliative Care Association and Cardiff University. Experts in palliative care from across Africa and the UK have contributed to ensure this module is contextualised to the sub-Saharan cancer profile and resource setting.

Please click here for ecancer's special issue focusing on palliative care in Africa, featuring five original articles from on-the-ground experts, and an editorial by Nobel Peace Prize nominee Professor Anne Merriman.

Published in November 2013.

Learning objectives

By the end of the module, you should be able to:

List some of the usual causes of fatigue and weakness in cancer patients.

Review the options for managing reversible causes of weakness in your area.

Discuss with a new colleague the usual impact on the patient and family of weakness and fatigue.

Discuss with a family the management of a patient who appears to be losing their appetite.

IT Requirements

This module requires the learner to have a good, stable internet connection and runs best on INTERNET EXPLORER 7 AND ABOVE, and MOZILLA FIREFOX on either Windows or MacOS. FLASH ADD ON is also required to run this module.

If you are viewing this module on an iPad (through a browser), please download the free Articulate Mobile Player beforehand. Other tablet devices may not be compatible - please check for Flash compatibility.

If you are experiencing technical difficulties, please contact education@ecancer.org and we will get back to you as soon as possible.

Disclosure policy

ecancer and everyone involved in the making of this resource have no actual or potential conflict of interest whatsoever which impinges on the making, peer reviewing and dissemination of this e-learning module which was made possible by an unrestricted grant from the International Atomic Energy Agency - Programme of Action for Cancer Therapy.

For more information please contact education@ecancer.org.