Uncertainty and sense-of-self as targets for intervention for cancer-related fatigue

Cancer-related fatigue (CRF) can be a devastating consequence of cancer and cancer treatments, negatively impacting 50%-90% of cancer patients regardless of age, sex or diagnosis. Limited evidence and research exist to inform effective patient-centred interventions. To target symptom management, there must first be a broader understanding of the symptoms and the lived experience of the persons experiencing CRF and those caring for them, from a supportive as well as a healthcare perspective. This study set out to consider whether components of the language used or descriptors reported by patients, family members, and/or healthcare professionals may provide new insights for potential targets for intervention development. Descriptors from 84 responses (n = 84) from cancer survivors, family members and healthcare professionals were analysed for content. The descriptors reiterate the physical, emotional and functional consequences of CRF, but also reflect two new potential targets for intervention to mitigate the impacts of CRF: uncertainty and sense-of-self.