FREQUENCY AND CORRELATES OF FATIGUE IN LUNG-CANCER PATIENTS RECEIVINGRADIATION-THERAPY - IMPLICATIONS FOR MANAGEMENT

The medical records of 50 consecutive patients receiving radiation the rapy for histologically diagnosed lung cancer were retrospectively rev iewed to determine the frequency of fatigue and its relationship to pa in, depression, and other potentially treatable correlates. Fatigue de veloped in 39 of the 50 patients (78%) and was not strongly related to demographic or disease variables. Pain was experienced by 40 patients (80%), but depression was noted in the records of only six patients ( 12%). Onset of fatigue closely followed development of pain in only II patients. Lower frequency of fatigue in patients with previous surger y or chemotherapy and the likelihood of a response shift suggest these were not significant causes of fatigue. Previous studies highlight a higher frequency of depression in cancer patients and a correlation wi th treatment-related fatigue. Prospective studies on the relationship between depression and fatigue and the ability of antidepressants to a meliorate treatment-related fatigue are needed.