Fatigue after treatment for malignant and benign bone and soft tissue tumors

Abstract

Fatigue has been mentioned as an important complaint in several groups of disease-free patients after curative treatment for cancer. However, it has never been investigated in a sample of patients who have been treated for a bone or soft tissue tumor in the past. In the current study, these patients participated. Measurement included posted questionnaires at baseline and at follow-up (two years later). Baseline results indicated that fatigue is a severe problem for 28% of the investigated patients. Percentages were equal for patients who were treated for malignant or benign tumors. Fatigue complaints seem to be most severe for patients who finished treatment relatively recently, and for patients who had to undergo more than one operation. In addition, fatigue was associated with several psychological and physical variables. At follow-up, the majority of all patients who were severely fatigued at baseline continued to be severely fatigued. Severe fatigue at follow-up was predicted by oncological complications after initial treatment, less optimism, and more somatization. It can be concluded that fatigue is an important problem for more than a quarter of a sample of patients who have been treated for a malignant or benign bone or soft tissue tumor in the past.

Experience of severe fatigue in long-term survivors of stem cell transplantation

“…10,11 Furthermore, it seems that patients with more aggressive treatments are more at risk for persistent fatigue. [12][13][14] However, little is known about the aetiology of persistent fatigue and at this moment, persistent fatigue is unexplainable by somatic factors. Fatigue seems to be elicited during the treatment phase, but later on there is no clear relationship between persistent fatigue and initial disease and cancer treatment variables.…”

“…The assumption is that cancer itself and/or cancer treatment may have triggered fatigue (precipitating factors), but other factors are responsible for the persistence of fatigue complaints (perpetuating factors). 13,18,19 In a previous study, we found cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) especially designed for fatigued cancer survivors effective in reducing fatigue and impairment. 18 The rationale of this intervention was based on the model of precipitating and perpetuating factors.…”

“…18 The rationale of this intervention was based on the model of precipitating and perpetuating factors. The intervention was focused on six perpetuating factors of postcancer fatigue: (1) insufficient coping with the experience of cancer, (2) fear of disease recurrence, 13,16 (3) dysfunctional cognitions concerning fatigue, 19,20 (4) dysregulation of sleep, 10,11 (5) dysregulation of activity and 10,11,16 (6) low social support and negative social interactions. 19 However, in this last study, none of the patients included were treated with a SCT.…”

Fatigue in colorectal cancer patients: prevalence and associated factors

“…Fatigue seems to persist even after the "cure" of cancer, since 19% to 58% of treated people without evidence of cancer reported the symptom (5)(6) .…”

“…In the same manner, performance status was worse among fatigued than among nonfatigued subjects. Various studies in different scenarios also identified performance status, pain, depression and sleep alteration, among others, as factors related to fatigue (4,6,11,14) .…”