Oncology Patient Evidence-Based Notes (OPEN): cancer-related fatigue.

Fatigue is a common, significant problem in patients receiving cancer treatment. About 80%–100% of patients with cancer report some degree of fatigue (Nail, 2002; Ream & Richardson, 1999). Similar to pain, fatigue is a subjective, complex experience. Patients may report feelings of fatigue despite the use of erythropoietin therapy to increase or maintain their hemoglobin levels. In an effort to better understand and treat fatigue, the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) convened a panel of experts to review the literature on cancerrelated fatigue and develop evidence-based clinical practice guidelines. The initial guidelines were published in 2000 and revised in 2003. The guidelines include a definition of cancer-related fatigue, standards of care, screening and primary evaluation, and interventions for fatigue during active treatment, long-term follow-up, and end-of-life care (NCCN, 2003). Cancer-related fatigue is defined as “a persistent, subjective sense of tiredness related to cancer or cancer treatment that interferes with usual functioning” (NCCN, 2003, p. 2). Because of the subjective nature of fatigue, patients’ self-reports are a key component of Diane G. Cope, PhD, ARNP-BC, AOCN®, is a nurse practitioner at Florida Cancer Specialists in Fort Myers.