Fatigue in cancer patients treated with cytotoxic drugs

Study objectives. 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 t...