Cancer-related fatigue: implications for breast cancer survivors

Cancer-related fatigue (CRF) has been documented as 1 of the most distressing symptoms reported by breast cancer survivors. CRF affects functioning and impacts quality of life. Possible causal factors include physical conditions, affective and cognitive states, proinflammatory cytokines, and metabol...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Cancer 2012-04, Vol.118 (8 Suppl), p.2261-2269
Main Authors: Berger, Ann M, Gerber, Lynn H, Mayer, Deborah K
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Aged
American Cancer Society
Breast Neoplasms - complications
Breast Neoplasms - psychology
Breast Neoplasms - therapy
Combined Modality Therapy
Congresses as Topic
Fatigue - epidemiology
Fatigue - etiology
Fatigue - therapy
Female
Follow-Up Studies
Humans
Incidence
Middle Aged
Quality of Life
Risk Assessment
Sleep Wake Disorders - epidemiology
Sleep Wake Disorders - etiology
Sleep Wake Disorders - therapy
Stress, Psychological - epidemiology
Stress, Psychological - etiology
Stress, Psychological - therapy
Survivors
Treatment Outcome
Upper Extremity - physiopathology
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Summary:Cancer-related fatigue (CRF) has been documented as 1 of the most distressing symptoms reported by breast cancer survivors. CRF affects functioning and impacts quality of life. Possible causal factors include physical conditions, affective and cognitive states, proinflammatory cytokines, and metabolic factors. Several common problems are associated with CRF in women with breast cancer, including treatment side effects, obesity, arm/upper quadrant symptoms, sleep disturbances, psychological effects, and comorbid conditions. In this article, the authors review the state of the knowledge regarding these issues and nonpharmacologic and pharmacologic interventions for CRF. Physical activity and psychosocial interventions are recommended for practice. Numerous limitations of past studies need to be considered in the design of future studies. CRF is prevalent in preoperative, postoperative, and ongoing surveillance phases. Throughout the continuum of care for women with breast cancer, clinicians must screen, further assess as indicated, and treat CRF, because it is associated with emotional distress and limits function and willingness to exercise.
ISSN:0008-543X
1097-0142
DOI:10.1002/cncr.27475