Skip to main content
Key Specialties
Cardiology Diabetology Endocrinology Gastroenterology Geriatrics and Gerontology Gynecology and Obstetrics Hematology Infectious Disease Internal Medicine Nephrology Neurology Oncology Pediatrics Respiratory Medicine Rheumatology Surgery
Congress Coverage
2024 ACC Congress 2023 ESMO Congress 2023 EASD Congress 2023 ERS Congress 2023 ESC Congress 2023 EHA Congress 2023 ASCO Annual Meeting
Clinical Collections
Advances in Alzheimer’s

At a glance: The ONWARDS insulin icodec trials

A round-up of the ONWARDS phase 3 clinical trials evaluating the novel weekly insulin icodec in people with diabetes.
ADVANCED SEARCH
Log in
Top
Supportive Care in Cancer
Published in: Supportive Care in Cancer 9/2017

Open Access 01-09-2017 | Original Article

Prevalence and impact of severe fatigue in adolescent and young adult cancer patients in comparison with population-based controls

Authors: Hanneke Poort, Suzanne E. J. Kaal, Hans Knoop, Rosemarie Jansen, Judith B. Prins, Eveliene Manten-Horst, Petra Servaes, Olga Husson, Winette T. A. van der Graaf

Published in: Supportive Care in Cancer | Issue 9/2017

Login to get access

Abstract

Purpose

The current study determined the prevalence of severe fatigue in adolescent and young adult (AYA) cancer patients (aged 18–35 years at diagnosis) consulting a multidisciplinary AYA team in comparison with gender- and age-matched population-based controls. In addition, impact of severe fatigue on quality of life and correlates of fatigue severity were examined.

Methods

AYAs with cancer (n = 83) completed questionnaires including the Checklist Individual Strength (CIS-fatigue), Quality of Life (QoL)-Cancer Survivor, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (reflecting psychological distress), and the Cancer Worry Scale (reflecting fear of cancer recurrence or progression).

Results

The vast majority of participants had been treated with chemotherapy (87%) and had no active treatment at the time of participation (73.5%). Prevalence of severe fatigue (CIS-fatigue score ≥35) in AYAs with cancer (48%, n = 40/83) was significantly higher in comparison with matched population-based controls (20%, n = 49/249; p < .001). Severely fatigued AYAs with cancer reported lower QoL compared to non-severely fatigued AYAs with cancer (p < .05). Female gender, being unemployed, higher disease stage (III–IV) at diagnosis, receiving active treatment at the time of study participation, being treated with palliative intent, having had radiotherapy, higher fear of recurrence or progression, and higher psychological distress were significantly correlated with fatigue severity (p < .05).

Conclusions

Severe fatigue based on a validated cut-off score was highly prevalent in this group of AYAs with cancer. QoL is significantly affected by severe fatigue, stressing the importance of detection and management of this symptom in those patients affected by a life-changing diagnosis of cancer in late adolescence or young adulthood.
Literature
1.
Barr RD, Ferrari A, Ries L et al (2016) Cancer in adolescents and young adults: a narrative review of the current status and a view of the future. JAMA Pediatr 170(5):495–501CrossRefPubMed
2.
Zebrack BJ (2011) Psychological, social, and behavioral issues for young adults with cancer. Cancer 117(10 Suppl):2289–2294CrossRefPubMed
3.
Sansom-Daly UM, Wakefield CE (2013) Distress and adjustment among adolescents and young adults with cancer: an empirical and conceptual review. Transl Pediatr 2(4):167–197PubMedPubMedCentral
4.
Smith AW, Bellizzi KM, Keegan TH et al (2013) Health-related quality of life of adolescent and young adult patients with cancer in the United States: the adolescent and young adult health outcomes and patient experience study. J Clin Oncol 31(17):2136–2145CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
5.
Salsman JM, Garcia SF, Yanez B et al (2014) Physical, emotional, and social health differences between posttreatment young adults with cancer and matched healthy controls. Cancer 120(15):2247–2254CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
6.
Hofman M, Ryan JL, Figueroa-Moseley CD et al (2007) Cancer-related fatigue: the scale of the problem. Oncologist 12(Suppl 1):4–10CrossRefPubMed
7.
Tomlinson D, Zupanec S, Jones H et al (2016) The lived experience of fatigue in children and adolescents with cancer: a systematic review. Support Care Cancer 24(8):3623–3631CrossRefPubMed
8.
Berger AM, Mooney K, Alvarez-Perez A et al (2015) Cancer-related fatigue, version 2.2015. J Natl Compr Cancer Netw 13(8):1012–1039CrossRef
9.
Aksnes LH, Hall KS, Jebsen N et al (2007) Young survivors of malignant bone tumours in the extremities: a comparative study of quality of life, fatigue and mental distress. Support Care Cancer Sep 15(9):1087–1096CrossRef
10.
Curt GA, Breitbart W, Cella D et al (2000) Impact of cancer-related fatigue on the lives of patients: new findings from the fatigue coalition. Oncologist 5(5):353–360CrossRefPubMed
11.
Vercoulen JH, Swanink CM, Fennis JF et al (1994) Dimensional assessment of chronic fatigue syndrome. J Psychosom Res 38(5):383–392CrossRefPubMed
12.
Goedendorp MM, Peters ME, Gielissen MF et al (2010) Is increasing physical activity necessary to diminish fatigue during cancer treatment? Comparing cognitive behavior therapy and a brief nursing intervention with usual care in a multicenter randomized controlled trial. Oncologist 15(10):1122–1132CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
13.
Peters ME, Goedendorp MM, Verhagen CA et al (2014) Severe fatigue during the palliative treatment phase of cancer: an exploratory study. Cancer Nurs 37(2):139–145CrossRefPubMed
14.
Gielissen MF, Verhagen S, Witjes F et al (2006) Effects of cognitive behavior therapy in severely fatigued disease-free cancer patients compared with patients waiting for cognitive behavior therapy: a randomized controlled trial. J Clin Oncol 24(30):4882–4887CrossRefPubMed
15.
Ferrell BR, Dow KH, Grant M (1995) Measurement of the quality of life in cancer survivors. Qual Life Res 4(6):523–531CrossRefPubMed
16.
Zigmond AS, Snaith RP (1983) The hospital anxiety and depression scale. Acta Psychiat Scand 67(6):361–370CrossRefPubMed
17.
Vodermaier A, Millman RD (2011) Accuracy of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale as a screening tool in cancer patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Support Care Cancer 19(12):1899–1908CrossRefPubMed
18.
Custers JA, van den Berg SW, van Laarhoven HW et al (2014) The Cancer Worry Scale: detecting fear of recurrence in breast cancer survivors. Cancer Nurs 37(1):E44–E50CrossRefPubMed
19.
Servaes P, Verhagen S, Bleijenberg G (2002) Determinants of chronic fatigue in disease-free breast cancer patients: a cross-sectional study. Ann Oncol 13(4):589–598CrossRefPubMed
20.
Geue K, Sender A, Schmidt R et al (2014) Gender-specific quality of life after cancer in young adulthood: a comparison with the general population. Qual Life Res 23(4):1377–1386CrossRefPubMed
21.
Servaes P, Verhagen C, Bleijenberg G (2002) Fatigue in cancer patients during and after treatment: prevalence, correlates and interventions. Eur J Cancer 38(1):27–43CrossRefPubMed
22.
Abrahams HJ, Gielissen MF, Schmits IC et al (2016) Risk factors, prevalence, and course of severe fatigue after breast cancer treatment: a meta-analysis involving 12 327 breast cancer survivors. Ann Oncol 27(6):965–974CrossRefPubMed
23.
Hall AE, Boyes AW, Bowman J et al (2012) Young adult cancer survivors' psychosocial well-being: a cross-sectional study assessing quality of life, unmet needs, and health behaviors. Support Care Cancer 20(6):1333–1341CrossRefPubMed
24.
Larsson G, Mattsson E, von Essen L (2010) Aspects of quality of life, anxiety, and depression among persons diagnosed with cancer during adolescence: a long-term follow-up study. Eur J Cancer 46(6):1062–1068CrossRefPubMed
25.
Harlan LC, Lynch CF, Keegan TH et al (2011) Recruitment and follow-up of adolescent and young adult cancer survivors: the AYA HOPE study. J Cancer Surviv 5:305–314CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
26.
Rosenberg AR, Bona K, Wharton CM et al (2016) Adolescent and young adult patient engagement and participation in survey-based research: a report from the “Resilience in Adolescents and Young Adults With Cancer” study. Pediatr Blood Cancer 63(4):734–736CrossRefPubMed
27.
Roscoe JA, Kaufman ME, Matteson-Rusby SE et al (2007) Cancer-related fatigue and sleep disorders. Oncologist 12(Suppl 1):35–42CrossRefPubMed
28.
29.
Stepanski EJ, Walker MS, Schwartzberg LS et al (2009) The relation of trouble sleeping, depressed mood, pain, and fatigue in patients with cancer. J Clin Sleep Med 5(2):132–136PubMedPubMedCentral
30.
Bower JE, Bak K, Berger A et al (2014) Screening, assessment, and management of fatigue in adult survivors of cancer: an American Society of Clinical oncology clinical practice guideline adaptation. J Clin Oncol 32(17):1840–1850CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
Metadata
Title
Prevalence and impact of severe fatigue in adolescent and young adult cancer patients in comparison with population-based controls
Authors
Hanneke Poort
Suzanne E. J. Kaal
Hans Knoop
Rosemarie Jansen
Judith B. Prins
Eveliene Manten-Horst
Petra Servaes
Olga Husson
Winette T. A. van der Graaf
Publication date
01-09-2017
Publisher
Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in
Supportive Care in Cancer / Issue 9/2017
Print ISSN: 0941-4355
Electronic ISSN: 1433-7339
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-017-3746-0

Other articles of this Issue 9/2017

Supportive Care in Cancer 9/2017 Go to the issue

Original Article

Compliance and safety of a novel home exercise program for patients with high-grade brain tumors, a prospective observational study

Original Article

Confounding factors associated with oral mucositis assessment in patients receiving chemoradiotherapy for head and neck cancer

Original Article

Impact of dyspnea on advanced cancer patients referred to a palliative radiotherapy clinic

Original Article

A prospective study of aromatase inhibitor therapy initiation and self-reported side effects

Review Article

Instruments to measure anxiety in children, adolescents, and young adults with cancer: a systematic review

Original Article

Cancer-specific geriatric assessment and quality of life: important factors in caring for older patients with aggressive B-cell lymphoma
Webinar | 19-02-2024 | 17:30 (CET)

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on antibody–drug conjugates in cancer

Watch now

Antibody–drug conjugates (ADCs) are novel agents that have shown promise across multiple tumor types. Explore the current landscape of ADCs in breast and lung cancer with our experts, and gain insights into the mechanism of action, key clinical trials data, existing challenges, and future directions.

Dr. Véronique Diéras
Prof. Fabrice Barlesi
Developed by: Springer Medicine
Image Credits