Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 13, 2025
08:56
Evaluating the Role of Mitochondrial Function in Cancer-related Fatigue
Published on: May 17, 2018
9.2K
Management of Fatigue in Patients with Advanced Cancer
Patrick Stone1, Diego Ezequiel Candelmi2, Kerran Kandola3
1Marie Curie Palliative Care Research Department, Division of Psychiatry, University College London (UCL), 6th Floor, Maple House, 149 Tottenham Court Road, W1T 7NF, London, UK. p.stone@ucl.ac.uk.
Current Treatment Options in Oncology
|January 19, 2023
Summary
Cancer-related fatigue impacts quality-of-life. Aerobic exercise, yoga, and cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) show promise, with cautious recommendations for advanced disease and end-of-life care.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Palliative Care
- Rehabilitation Medicine
Background:
- Cancer-related fatigue is a prevalent and debilitating symptom affecting patients' quality-of-life and physical function.
- It is particularly common in advanced or metastatic incurable cancer.
- Fatigue management involves supportive measures and specific interventions like physical, psychological, or pharmacological therapies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review current evidence on interventions for cancer-related fatigue.
- To provide recommendations for managing fatigue across different stages of cancer, including advanced disease and end-of-life care.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on cancer-related fatigue interventions.
- Categorization of interventions into physical therapies, psychological therapies, and medication.
- Assessment of evidence strength for various approaches.
Main Results:
- Aerobic exercise, yoga, cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), and psycho-educational interventions demonstrate the strongest evidence for managing fatigue.
- Less robust evidence supports medications like methylphenidate or ginseng.
- Evidence for interventions in advanced cancer is limited, suggesting potentially different underlying mechanisms.
Conclusions:
- Cautious implementation of aerobic exercise is recommended for mobile patients with advanced cancer.
- Psycho-educational approaches or CBT may benefit patients able to engage in these therapies.
- For end-of-life care, dexamethasone (short-term) and other pharmacological treatments should be used cautiously within clinical trials.
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