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The Concept of Fatigue or Tiredness as Experienced in Health and Disease, and More Specifically in Cancer

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Fatigue in Patients with Cancer

Part of the book series: Recent Results in Cancer Research ((RECENTCANCER,volume 145))

Abstract

In the English and French languages, the word fatigue is used to express feelings of extreme, unusual tiredness. In contrast, Itahan-speaking individuals use the word “stanchezza” (tiredness) and the German-speaking population also simply uses the word “Müdigkeif” (tiredness). The Latin word “fatigatid” is translated into German as “general exhaustion” (allgemeine Erschöpfung; Duden 1985). The ancient Greeks seem to have felt “asthenias” (strengthless) rather than tired (kamov/kekmäkos). In many countries, lay populations would not understand the term fatigue, because there is not even a word for it in their language. In these countries, the term fatigue seems to be replaced by words corresponding to “extreme tiredness” and “general exhaustion.”

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  1. Zentrum für Tumordiagnostik und Prävention, Krebsvorsorge und Pflegeforschung, Rorschacherstr. 150, CH-9007, St. Gallen, Switzerland

    Agnes Glaus PhD, MSs, RN

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  1. Agnes Glaus PhD, MSs, RN
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Glaus, A. (1998). The Concept of Fatigue or Tiredness as Experienced in Health and Disease, and More Specifically in Cancer. In: Fatigue in Patients with Cancer. Recent Results in Cancer Research, vol 145. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-51466-1_2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-51466-1_2

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-642-51468-5

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-51466-1

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