Cancer related fatigue is defined by the National Comprehensive Cancer Network as “a distressing, persistent, subjective sense of physical, emotional and/or cognitive tiredness or exhaustion related to cancer or cancer treatment that is not proportional to recent activity and interferes with usual functioning. It’s one of the most common side effects of treatment, affecting 60-90 percent of individuals during treatment. Recent evidence shows up to one third of all cancer survivors have “clinically relevant levels of CRF” as much as six months post-treatment. What’s more, persistent CRF correlates to higher levels of disability.
Various cancer treatments can cause CRF, including surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation. CRF may also be fueled by the cancer itself. Additionally, many patients may present with other medical comorbidities that can cause pre-existing fatigue, exacerbating the problem.
- Generalized weakness, heaviness in limbs
- Decreased concentration, attention, and/or memory
- Lack of motivation for normal activities and social interaction
- Changes in sleep patterns (difficulty with or excessive sleep)
- Difficulty overcoming inactivity • Irritability and listlessness
- Difficulty with starting or completing activities of daily living
- Need to sleep throughout the day
- Limited ability to eat due to fatigue
Exercise is typically the first-line treatment for CRF. Exercise is the strongest literature-supported, nonpharmacological intervention for treatment of CRF, particularly multimodal exercise consisting of moderate to high intensity aerobic activity and resistance training. Treatment options include:
- Aerobic and resistance exercise
- Postural and body mechanics education to improve movement efficiency
- Energy conservation and activity modification education
- Stretching exercises
- Breath retraining
- Mindfulness/relaxation techniques
- Sleep hygiene
ReVital cancer rehabilitation therapists have been specially trained to prescribe safe and effective exercise programs for people with cancer and survivors of all cancer types. They have extensive knowledge on the effects of cancer treatment and other medical comorbidities that could impact exercise tolerance. They also understand proper metrics for exercise prescription, allowing survivors to realize the full physiological benefits.
The ReVital team is happy to schedule a team training session on best practices for screening patients with cancer related fatigue. We’re flexible and will make it as easy as possible to learn more about screening and referral set up.
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