Professional nurse (London, England)
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Despite the evidence that patients with cancer experience fatigue as a symptom of their condition or as a consequence of treatment, there is no uniform definition of the term, making it difficult to identify the causes. Patients also lack professional support to help them cope. This paper describes the potential causes of fatigue and provides some management solutions.
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Patients requiring i.v. treatment of between six weeks and six months will benefit from having a peripheral or central i.v. line. PICCs have a number of advantages over other peripheral or central devices. There is less risk of complications and infection than with central devices and repeated venepunctures are avoided as one PICC should provide adequate access throughout.