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Cancer-Induced Fatigue And Skeletal Muscle Wasting: The Role Of Exercise, Sadeeka Al-Majid, Donna O. Mccarthy

College of Nursing Faculty Research and Publications

Fatigue is the most frequently reported symptom by cancer patients. Many of these patients perceive fatigue as the most distressing symptom associated with their illness because it imposes limitations on their physical activity level. Skeletal muscle wasting, which occurs as part of cancer cachexia, is one of the mechanisms that contribute to fatigue. Cancer induced skeletal muscle wasting may occur despite normal food intake and is not prevented by nutritional supplementation. Evidence suggests that endurance exercise ameliorates cancer-related fatigue. There is no compelling evidence to support that exercise induced reduction in fatigue is related to preservation of muscle mass. Resistance …