Cancer-Related Fatigue: A Case Study

Researchers, Location/ University

This study was conducted at the division of Population Health Sciences and Education at St. George’s University in London, UK. The researchers were Dr. Ollie Minton, Division of Population Health Sciences and Education, and Patrick C. Stone, also from St. George’s University.

Background

It is said that chronic Fatigue is a feature in a subset of women successfully treated for breast cancer but is not well characterized. Two-thirds of women diagnosed with breast cancer today are likely to survive for at least 20 years and as a result are living longer with side effects of treatment. There was previously a review done regarding the prevalence of fatigue in breast cancer survivors, but many of the early studies of fatigue were

The four criteria were;

1. Presence of two weeks of significant fatigue in the preceding month and presence of at least 5 out of 9 other fatigue symptoms.

2. Fatigue has significant effect on work or self-care.

3. Fatigue symptoms are a consequence of cancer or cancer therapy

4. The symptoms are not primarily a consequence of a comorbid psychiatric disorder.

Structured Clinical Interview for the DSM-IV

This interview provides information and diagnosis whether the patient has any of the DSM –IV diseases. The same person conducted the interviews, done by a OM who was trained in administration and supervised by consultant liaison psychiatrist. The average administration time for this particular test was around 30 minutes.

Other questionnaires

1. Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy

2. The Chalder Fatigue Scale

3. VAS-F, had to give a score of average fatigue over the last week on 0-10

4. Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale

5. European Organization of Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life

6. EORTC Breast Module (BR23)

7. 7 Item Insomnia Severity