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Fatigue in patients with cancer
1Department of Palliative Medicine, Royal Marsden Hospital, Sutton, Surrey, U.K.
European Journal of Cancer (Oxford, England : 1990)
|January 20, 1999
Summary
Cancer-related fatigue is common, but its prevalence is hard to estimate accurately due to limited controlled studies. Promising management strategies exist, though no single treatment is proven effective for cancer fatigue.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Psychology
- Quality of Life Research
Background:
- Cancer-related fatigue is a prevalent and distressing symptom impacting patient well-being.
- Existing quality of life questionnaires and specific tools are increasingly used to assess fatigue.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review current knowledge on cancer-related fatigue assessment, prevalence, mechanisms, and management.
- To highlight the limitations of current research and identify promising therapeutic avenues.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of studies on cancer-related fatigue.
- Analysis of assessment tools and prevalence data.
- Examination of proposed mechanisms and management strategies.
Main Results:
- Numerous studies document cancer fatigue, but most are uncontrolled, hindering accurate prevalence estimation.
- Data from controlled studies are limited and yield conflicting results.
- Fatigue appears multifactorial, stemming from both physical and psychological causes.
Conclusions:
- Accurate estimation of cancer-related fatigue prevalence requires more controlled studies.
- While no definitive treatment exists, several management strategies show therapeutic potential for cancer fatigue.