Affiliation:
1. NAFKAM‐Norway's National Research Center in Complementary and Alternative Medicine, Faculty of Health Science, Department of Community Medicine, UiT The Arctic University of Norway Tromsø Norway
2. Department of Behavioural Sciences in Medicine Institute of Basic Medical Sciences in Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo Oslo Norway
3. Department of Oncology, Division of Cancer Medicine Oslo University Hospital Oslo Norway
Abstract
ABSTRACTBackgroundCancer‐related fatigue is a common and distressing late effect of cancer that can persist for decades after treatment completion. Although negatively affecting survivors' quality of life, few, if any, efficacious interventions for persistent, or chronic, fatigue exist.AimsTo inform future interventions, we explored how long‐term, young adult cancer survivors (YACSs) with chronic fatigue live with, and manage their fatigue over time, including their experiences with nonpharmacological interventions (NPIs) for chronic fatigue.Methods and ResultsWe conducted a qualitative focus group study with 15 YACSs (13 women) with chronic fatigue, on average 7.3 years post‐diagnosis. The YACS were identified and recruited through a nationwide health survey of cancer survivors (the NOR‐CAYACS study). Systematic content analysis was used to identify recurrent themes. Analysis revealed five themes: (1) manifestation of fatigue, detailing chronic fatigue experiences; (2) impact on daily life, highlighting the necessity to balance rest and activity, affecting relationships; (3) NPIs, where walks in nature were notably beneficial; (4) barriers to fatigue management, including energy deficits, treatment‐related bodily changes, and self‐care prioritization challenges; (5) facilitators to fatigue management, emphasizing the need for regular breaks, self‐care practices, and the importance of fatigue management education.ConclusionThis study offers novel insights into the lived experiences of YACSs with chronic fatigue, a subject scarcely examined in prior research. Our findings highlight the significant impact of chronic fatigue and the individualized strategies YACSs use to cope. The research emphasizes the need for personalized interventions to support chronic fatigue management, marking a critical step forward in addressing this often‐overlooked issue in survivorship care. Future research should focus on tailored approaches to improve YACSs' quality of life.