Cancer-Related Fatigue
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Fatigue is a common symptom in patients with cancer and is nearly universal in those undergoing cytotoxic chemotherapy, radiation therapy, bone marrow transplantation, or treatment with biologic response modifiers. The problem, which affects 70% to 100% of cancer patients, has been exacerbated by the increased use of fatigue-inducing multimodal treatments and dose-dense, dose-intense protocols. In patients with metastatic disease, the prevalence of cancer-related fatigue exceeds 75%, and cancer survivors report that fatigue is a disruptive symptom months or even years after treatment ends. Patients perceive fatigue to be the most distressing symptom associated with cancer and its treatment, more distressing even than pain or nausea and vomiting, which, for most patients, can generally be managed with medications.
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William E. Evans, PharmD (second photo), assumed the position of St. Jude Director and CEO in 2004. Previously the hospital's scientific director, Dr. Evans has published more than 250 research articles and has received 3 MERIT Awards from the National Institutes of Health for his research.
Michael Kastan, MD, PhD (third photo), is the director of the St. Jude Cancer Center. Dr. Kastan's laboratory is making major strides in elucidating how DNA damage affects cancer development.
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