The Relationship between Cancer Chemotherapy and Fatigue : A Review

Abstract

Fatigue is a subjective experience that affects cancer patients who treated with chemotherapy. In healthy individuals, it can be considered a physiological response to physical or psychological stress. In people with cancer diseases; fatigue often represents one of the most significant problems. Fatigue can be caused by many factors, both intrinsic to the patient and extrinsic, such as therapeutic (chemotherapy). This review, based on published studies, has been conducted between 2005 and 2012 with the aim of presenting a critical analysis of the available information on the characteristics, causes and potential treatments of fatigue in cancer patients receiving chemotherapy. Furthermore, in the absence of a clear demonstration of the efficacy of some therapies, the management of cancer-related fatigue remains poorly defined (except for the treatment of anemia-related fatigue). New randomized clinical trials are necessary to indicate the best strategies for overcoming this problem among cancer patients.