Management of Constitutional Symptoms

Abstract

Constitutional symptoms are general as opposed to local symptoms which affect the cancer patient’s entire system. This “systemic symptomatology” is most often a complex of multiple symptoms which are interrelated, which develop sequentially, and which reinforce one another. For example, physical weakness due to illness may cause a depressed self-image and promote withdrawal which in turn brings on somnolence and disinterest in normal activities, such as ingesting food. A vicious cycle develops which if untreated can have a serious impact on a patient’s physical and emotional well being.