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Cancer-related fatigue: mechanisms, assessment and treatment in older people

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 February 2011

Ollie Minton  and
Patrick C Stone
Ollie Minton*
Affiliation:
Division of Population Health Sciences and Education, St George's University of London, UK
Patrick C Stone
Affiliation:
Division of Population Health Sciences and Education, St George's University of London, UK
*
Address for correspondence: Dr Ollie Minton, Cancer Research UK Clinical Research Training Fellow and Honorary Consultant in Palliative Medicine, Division of Population Health Sciences and Education, 6th floor, Hunter Wing, St George's University of London, Cranmer Terrace, London SW17 0RE. Email: ominton@sgul.ac.uk
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Summary

Cancer-related fatigue (CRF) is a debilitating symptom that affects the majority of cancer patients. It can occur at all stages of treatment, worsening in advanced disease. It can be especially troublesome in the older person. CRF is often under-recognized and insufficiently treated routinely. This review will discuss both the postulated mechanisms and clinical tools for identifying and monitoring CRF during cancer treatment. The role of drug treatment and exercise to manage CRF is also assessed. Further studies, particularly in older people, are required to improve the poor levels of evidence for current CRF management options.

Keywords

fatigueneoplasmsageing
Type
Clinical geriatrics
Information
Reviews in Clinical Gerontology , Volume 21 , Issue 3 , August 2011 , pp. 256 - 266
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2011

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