Patients with advanced prostate cancer (PC) commonly experience fatigue related to the disease itself and its treatment, which affects their quality of life. There are limited real-world data available on patients' experiences of fatigue while receiving PC treatment and its management.
This was a cross-sectional, noninterventional qualitative study involving individual concept-elicitation interviews with patients in the United States. Patients with advanced PC aged ≥18 years who had experienced fatigue and were on androgen-deprivation therapy in combination with second-generation androgen receptor pathway inhibitors were interviewed and their experiences quantified.
Of the 143 patients screened, 13 qualified and 11 completed the interview. Most patients used the term "fatigue" (n = 8) to describe their experiences of tiredness, exhaustion, lack of energy, and weakness. Most patients (n = 8) did not receive any form of educational support from their healthcare providers (HCPs), but some expressed an interest in receiving this support (pamphlets, n = 4; discussion with HCPs, n = 4; online resources, n = 3). Most patients (n = 9) self-discovered fatigue-management strategies over the course of their disease and treatment. Patients found that rigorous exercise (n = 5), regular naps (n = 2), increased rest (n = 3), and a healthy diet (n = 3) were the most effective approaches for managing their fatigue.
Tools are needed to support HCPs with counseling patients with PC for effective management of disease- and treatment-related fatigue.
Clinical genitourinary cancer. 2024 Aug 19 [Epub ahead of print]
Stephen J Freedland, Marty Chakoian, Ted Wells, Nader El-Chaar, Alexandra Colon, Dina Elsouda, Agnes Hong
Center for Integrated Research in Cancer and Lifestyle, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA; Durham VA Health Care System, Durham, NC. Electronic address: ., Us TOO in Seattle, Prostate Cancer Support, Education, and Advocacy, Seattle, WA., IQVIA, New York, NY., Astellas Pharma Inc., Northbrook, IL.