Chemotherapy and Cancer Related Fatigue: A Prospective Study in Rural Cancer Survivors of Malwa Region of Punjab

The objective of this no interventional, 7 months observational study was to analyze the prevalence of cancer-related fatigue (CRF) in cancer patient populations who were receiving chemotherapy and those who were not receiving chemotherapy. This was an observational study. Based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 60 subjects (24 male and 36 females) diagnosed with cancer enrolled for the study, which was further allotted into group A (n=30) which was receiving chemotherapy and group B (n=30) which was not receiving chemotherapy. The data collection was performed by administering the validated Fatigue symptoms Inventory (FSI) scale after obtaining the informed consent. The mean age of Group A and B is 49 years and Group B 51 years, respectively. The mean FSI score of the group receiving chemotherapy was 35.70±17.14, whereas the mean FSI score of a group not receiving chemotherapy was 19.50±16.05. An Independent t-test was applied and the independent t value came out to be 2.18.  An equal variance t-test reveals, statistically indicating a significant difference in FSI scores in groups receiving chemotherapy and not receiving chemotherapy (p=0.042).  From the results, we concluded that Cancer-related fatigue is highly prevalent in patients who are receiving chemotherapy than those who are not receiving chemotherapy. The underlying causes of CRF are poorly understood and further research is warranted in order to assess CRF before and after treatment and develop effective, patient-centred management strategies and to improve quality of life.