title: Fatigue in cancer patients treated with cytotoxic drugs.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Cancer-related fatigue is a significant and distressing problem for the cancer patient, affecting their physical and psychosocial function negatively, and reducing their quality of life. The aims of this study were to assess frequency, severity, and the consequence of fatigue in cancer outpatients receiving cytotoxic drugs, using an existing international fatigue scale applied for Swedish use.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study used a non-randomized, prospective design to evaluate fatigue and its impact on quality of life in outpatients receiving cytotoxic drugs. Once a week, 147 cancer patients, in an outpatient ward for cytotoxic drug administration, filled out questionnaires containing 13 items from the Fatigue Symptom Inventory (FSI), and five additional questions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Prevalence of fatigue was 92% in the week after all patients had received cytotoxic drugs, and patients were statistically significantly more fatigued during than before treatment. The degree of fatigue was highest the week after treatment, and declined over the following week. Other symptoms, especially depressed mood, showed a strong correlation with cancer and cytotoxic-induced fatigue. Lung and breast cancer patients experienced the highest degree of fatigue. Some cytotoxic drug regimens were, apart from the underlying disease, associated with high fatigue scores, eg, those with cyclophosphamide or gemcitabine. Patients not receiving first line treatment scored significantly higher fatigue with more influence on daily living.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The study verified that fatigue is a common side effect, and affects quality of life negatively, even for outpatients receiving cytotoxic drugs. The clinical oncology pharmacist must inform patients that a severe tiredness, fatigue, may follow cytotoxic drug administration.
authors.affiliation: Hospital Pharmacy, University Hospital, Department of Oncology, Uppsala, Sweden. per.hartvig@apoteket.se
authors.forename: Per
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hartvig
authors.forename: Johan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Aulin
authors.forename: Matilda
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hugerth
authors.forename: Sofia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wallenberg
authors.forename: Gunnar
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Wagenius
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D005221:Fatigue / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents