Exercise for the management of cancer-related fatigue in lung cancer: a systematic review

Abstract

Cancer-related fatigue is a common, persistent and disabling side-effect of the cancer and its treatments. Exercise, once was contraindicated, is now the key non-pharmacological management for cancer-related fatigue. However, the role of exercise in lung cancer cohort is not clear. A computerised database search was undertaken using keyword search in the CENTRAL, PubMed, EMBASE, CINAHL, SPORTDiscus, AMED and Web of Science. Ten relevant articles were reviewed; the evidence on this cohort was found to be limited, warrants further research. However, the available evidence from other than lung cancer groups shows significant beneficial effects of exercises on cancer-related fatigue. Hence, exercises could possibly be used in the management of cancer-related fatigue in this cohort with due caution until more robust evidences are available.

Long-Term and Latent Side Effects of Specific Cancer Types

“…While fatigue is hard to treat, physical activity and exercise may improve symptoms. 100–102 In addition, targeted therapy such as angiogenesis inhibitors or drugs for LC with ALK gene mutations may also cause fatigue but it is not yet known how long fatigue symptoms may persist given the very recent use of these drugs.…”

Screening, evaluation, and management of cancer‐related fatigue: Ready for implementation to practice?

“…More than 40 meta‐analyses or systematic reviews of RCTs have confirmed the effectiveness of physical activity/exercise to improve fatigue outcomes; with 8 of those published in the past 2 years . Study populations in which effectiveness has been demonstrated include patients with breast, colon, and prostate cancer; patients undergoing treatment with radiation, chemotherapy, or hematopoietic stem cell transplantation; young adults with cancer; and survivors who have been treated for either a solid tumor or a hematologic malignancy.…”

Putting Evidence Into Practice: An Update of Evidence-Based Interventions for Cancer-Related Fatigue During and Following Treatment

“…Exercise/physical activity has been confirmed as effective in the management of CRF in more than 40 meta-analyses or systematic reviews of randomized, controlled trials (RCTs); more than 20 of the reviews have been published since 2010 (Braam et al, 2013;Brown et al, 2011;Cramer, Lauche, Klose, Dobos, & Langhorst, 2014;Cramp & Byron-Daniel, 2012;Crandall, Maguire, Campbell, & Kearney, 2014;Eickmeyer, Gamble, Shahpar, & Do, 2012;Focht et al, 2013;Fong et al, 2012;Keogh & MacLeod, 2012;McMillan & Newhouse, 2011;Mustian, Sprod, Janelsins, Peppone, & Mohile, 2012;Paramanandam & Dunn, 2014;Payne, Wiffen, & Martin, 2012;Persoon et al, 2013;Puetz & Herring, 2012;Speck, Courneya, Mâsse, Duval, & Schmitz, 2010;Strasser, Steindorf, Wiskemann, & Ulrich, 2013;Tomlinson, Diorio, Beyene, & Sung, 2014;van Haren et al, 2013;Velthuis, Agasi-Idenburg, Aufdemkampe, & Wittink, 2010;Wolin, Ruiz, Tuchman, & Lucia, 2010;Zou, Yang, He, Sun, & Xu, 2014). Populations in which effectiveness has been demonstrated include patients with breast, colon, and prostate cancers; patients undergoing treatment with radiation, chemotherapy, or hematopoietic stem cell transplantation; young adults with cancer; and survivors who have been treated for a solid tumor or a hematologic malignancy.…”

“…In their meta-analysis, Puetz and Herring (2012) noted that exercise exerts a palliative effect on fatigue during active treatment and provides a rehabilitative effect following treatment. Knowledge about the type, intensity, and duration of physical exercise most beneficial in reducing fatigue at different stages of disease and treatment is still emerging (Puetz & Herring, 2012), and more research is needed to systematically assess the safety, tolerability, and efficacy of aerobic exercise and strength training in cancer subpopulations, such as those with lung cancer (Brown et al, 2011;Paramanandam & Dunn, 2014), and across the cancer-control continuum (Wolin, Schwartz, Matthews, Courneya, & Schmitz, 2012). The exercise modalities that have been examined differ in content (walking, cycling, swimming, resistive exercise, or combined exercise), as well as frequency, duration, intensity, and degree of supervision (i.e., fully supervised groups versus self-directed exercise).…”