Cancer patients who suffer from severe fatigue at the start of their treatment have a poorer survival prognosis compared to less tired patients: here is the conclusion of a recent study published in the specialized journal JCO Oncology Practice.
Researchers from the SWOG Cancer Research Network (US) studied medical data from patients with hormone-resistant prostate cancer and patients with large cell lung cancer.
Fatigue is also associated with greater side effects during chemotherapy
Verdict: They found that patients testifying to a “significant fatigue“at the start of their treatment (or even: just before the start of treatment) had a 26% to 45% lower survival prognosis compared to the others.
In addition, with regard to prostate cancer, the researchers found that severe fatigue at the start of treatment was associated with greater side effects during chemotherapy – including gastrointestinal and neurological side effects.
As the Canadian Cancer Society explains, “fatigue is the most common symptom in people with cancer and the most common side effect of cancer treatments“If this fatigue can be regulated with medication, adopting a better lifestyle (a balanced diet and regular physical activity, in particular) can already help regain energy despite the disease.
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