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Complementary and Alternative Treatments for the Management of Cancer-Related Fatigue

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Alternative and Complementary Therapies for Cancer

Abstract

The National Comprehensive Cancer Network defines cancer-related fatigue (CRF) as “a persistent, subjective sense of tiredness related to cancer or cancer treatment that interferes with usual functioning.” [1] Based on this definition, there are two important components included in the measurement of CRF. The first is the subjective sense of tiredness or the descriptive expression of the symptom. The second is the impact of fatigue on various areas of functioning [2]. One of the distinguishing characteristics of CRF is that it is not relieved by sleep or rest [1], and patients report being “unusually” or overwhelmingly tired [3]. CRF affects multiple domains of an individual. In addition to the physical symptoms, CRF is also accompanied by negative affect or distress [1, 3].

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Integrative Medicine, Division of General Internal Medicine, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Rochester, MN, USA

    Amit Sood

  2. Department of Oncology, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Rochester, MN, USA

    Debra Barton

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  1. Amit Sood
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  2. Debra Barton
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Correspondence to Amit Sood .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. McGill University, Department of Medicine and Oncology,, Faculty of Medicine, Montreal, H3T 1E2, Canada

    Moulay Alaoui-Jamali

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Sood, A., Barton, D. (2010). Complementary and Alternative Treatments for the Management of Cancer-Related Fatigue. In: Alaoui-Jamali, M. (eds) Alternative and Complementary Therapies for Cancer. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-0020-3_15

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-0020-3_15

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