Cancer related fatigue syndrome in neoplastic diseases

Abstract

Fatigue is one of the most important factors which has a considerable influence on treatment and the life quality of oncological patients. The fatigue syndrome is often diagnosed during cancer treatment and this syndrome is not related to the physical effort. Cancer related fatigue is a patient's subjective, psychologically, physically and emotionally based feeling. It is disproportionate to patient's daily activity. The pathogenesis of this syndrome remains still unknown. However, on the basis of various questionnaires, it is possible to test the disease's complex nature. Cancer related fatigue causes deterioration of patient's life along with lower motivation to struggle with the disease. It is thought that the factor which increases the incidence of cancer related fatigue is a long-term use of drugs such as opioids, benzodiazepine, and medicines containing codeine, tranquilizers, anxiolytics and antidepressants. On the basis of the results, one can choose an appropriate treatment method for cancer related fatigue such as rehabilitation, psychotherapy or public assistance. A great number of patients consider excessive fatigue a typical concomitant symptom in neoplastic disease; therefore, they do not report it. It is of a paramount importance to make patients aware of the fact that cancer related fatigue is a serious disease which can be treated.

MyD88 signalling is critical in the development of pancreatic cancer cachexia

“…Fatigue is a very common symptom of cancer at diagnosis and throughout the course of illness . The ability to maintain normal daily physical activity is critical not only for wellness and quality of life but may also serve as a tool for early detection of cancer or for monitoring disease progression . To examine the effect of MyD88 signalling on physical activity during development of PDAC cachexia, we monitored daily LMA.…”

“…Patients with cancer cachexia frequently experience a dramatic decline in physical activity due to underlying disease and cancer treatment, and this is a primary determinant of quality of life . Experimentally, fatigue‐related behavioural alteration can be demonstrated in the early stages of cancer cachexia through the use of electronic activity monitors, with the overall decrease in physical activity approaching 40% of baseline .…”

“…Patients with cancer cachexia frequently experience a dramatic decline in physical activity due to underlying disease and cancer treatment, and this is a primary determinant of quality of life. 12,33,53,54 Experimentally, fatiguerelated behavioural alteration can be demonstrated in the early stages of cancer cachexia through the use of electronic activity monitors, with the overall decrease in physical activity approaching 40% of baseline. 55 With a murine actigraphy system, we demonstrate that decreased home cage movement (fatigue-related behaviour) is an early and robust symptom of PDAC cachexia, as it was detectable on Day 6 post-tumour implantation.…”

“…31,32 The ability to maintain normal daily physical activity is critical not only for wellness and quality of life but may also serve as a tool for early detection of cancer or for monitoring disease progression. 33 To examine the effect of MyD88 signalling on physical activity during development of PDAC cachexia, we monitored daily LMA. A similar pattern in the change of daily LMA was observed in separate experiments with male and female mice.…”

Effect of Exergaming on Muscle Strength, Pain, and Functionality of Shoulders in Cancer Patients

“…15 The main treatment techniques for CRF complaints are psychotherapy, physiotherapy, nutritional adequacy, therapy for sleep disturbances, and pharmacological treatments. 16 Physical exercise can reduce the intensity of this symptom, with relief being proportional to the volume of weekly practice. 17,18 Physical exercise programs improve physical fitness, quality of life, aerobic capacity, muscular strength, depression, and well-being [18][19][20] The American College of Sports Medicine recommends that, to apply exercise safely to cancer patients, exercise intensity should start low and increase according to the individual's ability.…”