Fatigue is a normal and expected side effect of most forms of chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and biotherapy.
People receiving radiation therapy, by contrast, often find their fatigue steadily increases until the end of treatment.
[2] Screening typically involves a simple question, like "On a scale of one to ten, how tired have you felt during the last week?"
Treatable causes of cancer-related fatigue include: anemia, pain, emotional distress, sleep disturbances, nutritional disturbances, decreased physical fitness and activity, side effects from medications (e.g., sedatives), abuse of alcohol or other substances.
[2] Additionally, other medical conditions, such as infections, heart disease, or endocrine dysfunction (e.g., hot flashes), can cause fatigue, and may also need treatment.
[6] A systematic review of the prevalence of cancer-related fatigue in men with prostate cancer was performed.
[7] The analysis indicated that fatigue is a common symptom, occurring in about 40% of men with prostate cancer especially among those using hormone therapy.
These forms of activity can be done at various levels of intensity and have been proven as an effective way of improving quality of life for cancer patients.
The clear advantage of methylphenidate in cancer is its rapid onset of action within 24–48 hours, and so the drug can be discontinued if ineffective.
[17] At the end of life, fatigue is usually associated with other symptoms, especially anemia, side effects from many medications and previous treatments, and poor nutritional status.
[3] Cancer-related fatigue has consistently been found to be one of the most prevalent and distressing symptoms in childhood cancer survivors.
[26] Fatigue after treatment for pediatric brain tumors does not automatically resolve itself, but requires surveillance and interventions.