[Fatigue and exhaustion in tumor patients. Etiology, diagnosis and treatment possibilities].
Fatigue is a frequent symptom in tumor patients. Although the phenomenon is well known, there is no homogeneous definition. Decreased quality of life, exhaustion, fatiguability, tiredness, malaise and asthenia are synonymous or overlapping terms used for this syndrome. Validated fatigue questionnaires show that fatigue and exhaustion are present in at least 75% of all tumor patients. Fatigue and exhaustion are enhanced by chemo-, radiation- and immunotherapy as well as surgery. Fatigue in tumor patients has many reasons and comprises physical, mental and emotional facets. The expression exhaustion should be applied for physical fatigue in order to differentiate this form from mental or emotional fatigue. Tumor anemia, atrophy of the skeleton muscles and tumor cachexia are the decisive factors for exhaustion. Treatment of fatigue improves quality of life in tumor patients and enhances their compliance. This paper gives an overview about the different types of fatigue and demonstrates various forms of treatment.
Zahner
J
J
Janssen-Cilag GmbH, Neuss. jzahner@jacde.jnj.com
D001247:Asthenia / Q000209:etiology*; D005221:Fatigue / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy; D012307:Risk Factors