Treating Fatigue in Cancer Patients

Abstract

Abstract Learning Objectives After completing this course, the reader will be able to: Explain the randomized controlled trials involving cancer patients with fatigue. Describe the different etiologies of fatigue. Describe the interventions (pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic) that are available for cancer patients with fatigue. Access and take the CME test online and receive one hour of AMA PRA category 1 credit at CME.TheOncologist.com Possible causes of cancer-related fatigue include depression, pain, sleep problems, anemia, deconditioning, metabolic abnormalities, infection, dietary problems, hypoxia, and side effects of medication. Although treatments are available for each of these conditions, there are no generally accepted treatments available for the whole fatigue syndrome. There are also very few studies on the treatment of cancer-related fatigue—only 10 randomized controlled trials. Health care providers have begun to understand that, just as the treatment of pain requires attention to imbalances in mind, body, and spirit, the treatment of fatigue will require such an approach.