A patient received surgery and chemotherapy for colon cancer, completing therapy three (3) months previously, and she is now in remission. At a follow-up appointment, she complains of fatigue following activity and difficulty with concentration at her weekly bridge games. Which of the following explanations would account for her symptoms?
A. The symptoms may be the result of anemia caused by chemotherapy.
B. The patient may be immunosuppressed.
C. The patient may be depressed.
D. The patient may be dehydrated.
Correct Answer: A. The symptoms may be the result of anemia caused by chemotherapy.
Three months after surgery and chemotherapy the patient is likely to be feeling the after-effects, which often includes anemia because of bone-marrow suppression.
Option B: There is no evidence that the patient is immunosuppressed, and fatigue is not a typical symptom of immunosuppression.
Options C and D: The information given does not indicate that depression or dehydration is a cause of her symptoms.