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Cancer-Related Fatigue

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Late Treatment Effects and Cancer Survivor Care in the Young

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Abstract

Cancer-related fatigue (CrF) is a common condition affecting up to 40% of cancer patients. It is characterized by a persistent or relapsing exhaustion that lasts for more than 6 months and does not improve with sleep or rest. CrF can be classified in mild, moderate or severe, depending on the degree of impairment. Although improvement is possible, many patients suffer from long-term illness and disability that significantly impair quality of life. Multiple factors may contribute to the development of CrF including cancer itself, cancer treatment, comorbidities and medications as well as genetic factors. The diagnosis of CrF is based on a detailed medical history and should be supported by specific questionnaires for the assessment of the extent of fatigue. Treatable contributing factors (e.g. cardiac, renal, pulmonary or endocrine dysfunctions as well as anaemia, arthritis or neuromuscular diseases) should be excluded. Treatment for CrF aims to reduce the symptoms and includes physical exercises, psychosocial interventions (behavioural and/or (psycho)educational therapy) and complemental interventions. The role of pharmacologic interventions in the therapy of CrF still needs to be evaluated. Although CrF may persist after cancer treatment, full recovery is possible and has been demonstrated particularly in children and young adults.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Internal Medicine I, University Hospital of Schleswig-Holstein, Campus Luebeck, Luebeck, Germany

    Judith Gebauer

  2. Deutsche Fatigue Gesellschaft e.V., Köln, Germany

    Jens U. Rüffer

  3. Experimental and Clinical Endocrinology, Department of Internal Medicine I, University Hospital of Schleswig-Holstein, Campus Luebeck, Luebeck, Germany

    Georg Brabant

Authors
  1. Judith Gebauer
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  2. Jens U. Rüffer
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  3. Georg Brabant
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Judith Gebauer .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pediatrics, University Children’s Hospital, Erlangen, Germany

    Jörn D. Beck

  2. Department of Onkology, University Hospital Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany

    Carsten Bokemeyer

  3. Pediatric Oncology and Hematology – Long-Term Follow-Up after Childhood Cancer, University Hospital for Children and Adolescents, Lübeck, Germany

    Thorsten Langer

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Gebauer, J., Rüffer, J.U., Brabant, G. (2021). Cancer-Related Fatigue. In: Beck, J.D., Bokemeyer, C., Langer, T. (eds) Late Treatment Effects and Cancer Survivor Care in the Young. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-49140-6_17

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-49140-6_17

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-030-49138-3

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-030-49140-6

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