Putting Methylphenidate for Cancer-Related Fatigue to Rest?
Mené sur 162 patients atteints d'un cancer de stade avancé et recevant des soins palliatifs, cet essai randomisé évalue l'efficacité du méthylphénidate pour traiter la fatigue
Fatigue is the symptom most frequently experienced by patients with cancer and has a profound impact on their quality of life.1,2 The National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) defines cancer-related fatigue (CRF) as a distressing, persistent, subjective sense of physical, emotional, and/or cognitive tiredness or exhaustion related to cancer or cancer treatment that is disproportionate to recent activity and interferes with usual functioning.1 Recent meta-analyses suggest that 4 to 7 out of 10 patients with cancer will experience CRF, with higher prevalence and severity in individuals receiving cancer treatments and in those with metastatic disease.3,4 However, CRF is underreported and undertreated, in part because it is often considered unavoidable, and in part because of lack of effective treatments.