FATIGUE IN CANCER
Jo Armes, Meinir K. Krishnasamy and Irene Higginson (Eds)
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Fatigue in Cancer
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Oxford University Press, 2004
311pp
ISBN 0-19-263094-6
RRP $US65.00, £39.95
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In the foreword to this book, Simon Wessely observes why we as a profession are wary of fatigue. It is non-specific, difficult to measure and difficult
to treat, but it is also a major source of morbidity to our patients. When lay people and doctors were asked to rate symptoms in order of importance, the professionals placed fatigue at the bottom
of the list, while the public ranked it at the top.
The book is divided into three sections. The first covers definitions, epidemiology, models, and clinical associations of fatigue. The second is about the
experience of fatigue and includes chapters on fatigue in people caring for patients with cancer and in children with cancer and their families. The last section covers the assessment and management
of fatigue and includes an in-depth discussion of all the physical, emotional, psychiatric and social associations of fatigue.
Armes or Patarca-Montero? This year sees the publication of two books devoted to cancer-related fatigue. Similar size and similar cost. The full Tables
of Contents are available in the Bookshop. Patarca-Montero has the advantage of being a single author text, but I think the multi-authored and multidisciplinary approach in Armes brings a greater
depth and breadth to the discussion of what is a very complex clinical problem. In Patarca, key points are usefully highlighted in little boxes in the text. In Armes, there is a thought-provoking
list of future areas for research at the end of each chapter. Patarca provides a little more detail about available therapies, particularly the complementary and alternative treatments. The Oxford
book is better presented with the use of tables, dot-point lists and diagrams of concepts; whole pages of references in parentheses, four and a half consecutive pages in one case, within the
text in the Haworth book are an annoyance and a strong recommendation for an alternative referencing system.
Both are worthy, scientifically-founded books that will do a lot to reinvigorate clinicians who have tired of fatigue and help get this complex symptom
out of the too-hard basket.
Roger Woodruff
Director of Palliative Care, Austin Health, Melbourne, Australia
September 2004
Author Information
Jo Armes is a Cancer Research UK Nursing Research Fellow, Department of Palliative Care and Policy, Guy’s King’s and St. Thomas’ School of Medicine, London,
UK
Meinir Krishnasamy is Research Fellow, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, Australia
Irene Higginson is Professor of Palliative Care and Policy, Department of Palliative Care and Policy, Guy’s King’s and St. Thomas’ School of Medicine, London,
UK
Table of Contents
Introduction
Higginson, Armes & Krishnasamy
Part 1 - The Nature and Pathophysiology of Fatigue
1. Definitions, epidemiology, and models of fatigue in the general population and in cancer
Hotopf
2. A critical appraisal of the factors associated with fatigue
Richardson
3. Mechanisms and models of fatigue associated with cancer and its treatment: evidence of pre-clinical and clinical studies
Andrews, Morrow, Hickok, Roscoe & Stone
4. Cancer cachexia and anorexia and their role in cancer fatigue
Castro & Bruera
Part 2 - The Experience of Fatigue
5. Fatigue in lay conceptualisations of health and illness
Krishnasamy & Field
6. The experience of cancer-related fatigue
Armes
7. Carers, caring, and cancer related fatigue
Krishnasamy & Plant
8. The experience of cancer-related fatigue in children, adolescents and their families
Eaton, Hinds, Barrera, Burlson, Gattuso, Kline, Bottomley, Alcoser & O'Neill:
Part 3 - The Assessment and Management of Fatigue
9. The assessment and measurement of fatigue in people with cancer
Wu & McSweeney
10. Fatigue and depression in cancer patients: conceptual and clinical issues
Jacobsen & Weitzner
11. Mental fatigue and cognitive dysfunction
Meyers
12. Ream & Stone: Clinical interventions for fatigue
Meyers
13. Fatigue and everyday function in people living with cancer
Mallinson & Cella
14. The therapeutic effects of exercise on fatigue
Porock & Fu
Index
