ASCO's updated guideline on the Management of Fatigue in Adult Survivors of Cancer provides clinicians with evidence-based recommendations to manage cancer-related fatigue effectively and enhance the overall well-being of cancer survivors.
Deborah Watkins Bruner, RN, PhD, FAAN, senior vice president for research at Emory University, professor of radiation oncology and researcher in the Cancer Prevention and Control Research Program at Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University, played a key role in the recent update of the American Society of Clinical Oncology’s (ASCO) guideline on the Management of Fatigue in Adult Survivors of Cancer. The guideline aims to provide clinicians with evidence-based recommendations to manage cancer-related fatigue effectively and enhance the overall well-being of cancer survivors.
The updated guideline, developed by a multidisciplinary panel including experts in medical oncology, geriatric oncology, internal medicine, psychology, psychiatry, exercise oncology, integrative medicine, behavioral oncology, nursing, and advocacy, emphasizes the importance of exercise, cognitive behavioral therapy and mindfulness-based programs in reducing cancer-related fatigue both during and after cancer treatment.
The panel's systematic review of 113 randomized controlled trials from 2013 to 2023 revealed that interventions such as tai chi, qigong, and American ginseng are beneficial during treatment, while yoga, acupressure and moxibustion help manage cancer-related fatigue after treatment. The guideline advises against the use of L-carnitine, antidepressants, and psychostimulants due to insufficient evidence of their efficacy.