Erfassung und Behandlung krebsassoziierter Fatigue

Cancer-related fatigue is a common and complex symptom that can significantly affect patients’ quality of life. During active treatment, up to 90% of patients suffer from fatigue. Even years after treatment, up to one third of survivors are affected by persistent fatigue. The current care situation in Germany is unsatisfactory.

This article aims to highlight the complexity of fatigue and the importance of assessing and treating this symptom.

Based on existing international guidelines, different ways of assessing fatigue and different treatment approaches are presented.

A thorough medical history is essential to identify early targets for prevention and treatment of fatigue. Regular screening and comprehensive education of all patients and their relatives play an important role in this regard. As screening and education are still insufficient, many patients do not have access to effective treatments. At the intervention level, physical activity, exercise, yoga, and psychosocial programs have been shown to be very effective. Drug therapy is currently not recommended.

The assessment and management of fatigue is complex and requires multiprofessional teams. As sufficient care structures for the treatment of fatigue do not yet exist in Germany, providing comprehensive information about the symptom and regular screening are particularly important.