Writing in the medical journal The Oncologist (Vol.7: 96), Robert Wharton MD, a pediatrician, described his battle with cancer and the overwhelming fatigue he experienced.

Diagnosed with advanced lung cancer, he knew he had a fight on his hands, but he didn't know how bad he would feel because of fatigue.

While receiving radiation and chemotherapy, his quality of life was diminished. Besides lacking the energy to fight his disease, he couldn't play with his children or give attention to his wife. Even walks in the woods and serious reading were out.

His oncologist told Wharton there were things they could try. Treating his anemia with epoietin, a drug that stimulates red blood cell formation, helped a little. But it did not help for long.

His oncologist looked around for other things to treat. He checked to see if Wharton's thyroid was under active or his blood calcium level was too high.

Maybe Wharton was depressed. His doctor increased his antidepressant.

Maybe his nutrition was off. A nutitionist gave him a better diet to try.

But nothing worked. He told Wharton that this was part of his cancer and he would have to live with it. "I was admonished to passively accept its intrusive and disabling affects, as though passive acceptance of any part of having cancer could be acceptable," said Wharton.

Cancer-related fatigue feels very different from everyday fatigue, said Lillian Nail, PhD, RN, a cancer survivor who has studied this side effect at the University of Utah School of Nursing. " 'Overwhelming' is the most common description," said Nail.

"When compared with the fatigue experienced by healthy people, cancer-related fatigue is more severe, it lasts longer, and sleep just doesn’t bring relief," she said.

The causes of cancer-related fatigue are not fully known. Problems like a low blood count, sleep disruption, stress, eating too little, and other factors may contribute to this condition, according to the American Cancer Society (ACS).

As a pediatrician, Wharton had some experience with drugs like Ritalin (methylphenidate) in treating children with attention deficit disorder. He was impressed that this drug could rouse these children and wondered if it could help him.

There were some articles on Ritalin for cancer patients, although most of the time it was used in patients with advanced cancer, especially those on strong narcotic pain medicines. But it also worked in AIDS patients who weren't dying. It was safe and improved their quality of life and psychological well-being.

The first day on Ritalin Wharton became a new person. His wife noticed it immediately. He took walks with her, talked with her, and became her husband again. His children rediscovered their father.

He was back.

His oncologist approved him switching to Adderall, a longer acting stimulant. Still there were setbacks. Wharton found himself "crashing" most afternoons. But the problem was solved when Wharton took a second dose of Adderall. If he held that dose off until the late afternoon, he had enough energy to take in an occasional dinner and movie in the evening.

Perhaps most important, Wharton reported he no longer found himself defenseless against his cancer. He could participate in the fight.

Wharton wrote his article in a journal read by oncologists. His message is clear. When patients complain of fatigue, don't tell them they have to live with it. Listen to them. Fatigue can be treated.