In 2006, Brown, et. al., conducted study which researchers delved into the relationship between quality of life (QOL) improvements and fatigue levels among patients undergoing radiation therapy for advanced cancer. Led by Paul Brown and colleagues, the investigation aimed to assess the effects of a structured multidisciplinary intervention on fatigue in this patient population.

The study, conducted as a randomized controlled trial, involved patients newly diagnosed with cancer who were assigned to either an 8-session multidisciplinary intervention or a standard-care arm at the outset of their radiotherapy treatment. The multidisciplinary sessions, spanning ninety minutes each, were led by mental health professionals collaborating with nurses, physical therapists, chaplains, or social workers, depending on the session’s focus.

Among the 115 participants enrolled, both randomization arms demonstrated balanced baseline characteristics and treatment regimens, though those in the intervention arm faced increased commuting distances (P = 0.042). Fatigue assessments utilized in the trial included the Linear Analogue Self Assessment (LASA), the Profile of Mood States (POMS), Spielberger’s State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), and the Symptom Distress Scale (SDS).

Findings revealed that while most scores indicated less fatigue (higher score) in the standard treatment group, statistically significant differences were not observed at baseline or at weeks 4, 8, and 27, except for SDS at week 8 (P = 0.018), where fewer patients reported significant fatigue in the standard treatment arm. Notably, fatigue levels initially worsened with the onset of radiotherapy, stabilized by week 8, and reverted to baseline by week 27. Factors such as disease site, chemotherapy utilization, and radiotherapy dose did not significantly influence fatigue levels.

Conclusively, the study indicated that while radiotherapy initially exacerbated fatigue, fatigue levels eventually returned to baseline over time. Interestingly, the structured multidisciplinary intervention showed no discernible impact on fatigue, with a suggestion that the multiple sessions may have even contributed to heightened fatigue during active cancer treatment.

This research contributes valuable insights into the management of fatigue in cancer patients undergoing radiation therapy and underscores the complexities involved in addressing this pervasive symptom within a multidisciplinary treatment framework.

Reference: Brown, P., Clark, M. M., Atherton, P., Huschka, M., Sloan, J. A., Gamble, G., & Rummans, T. A. (2006). Will improvement in quality of life (QOL) impact fatigue in patients receiving radiation therapy for advanced cancer?. American Journal of Clinical Oncology, 29(1), 52-58.