Evaluating long-term fatigue in survivors of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma

This study evaluated long-term fatigue in patients with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL). This study concluded that severe fatigue in common after initial treatment in NHL survivors.

Survivors of lymphoma often develop late complications, such as side effects that last a long time. About 30% of survivors develop long-term fatigue after treatment. As more patients experience remission (disappearance of all signs of cancer), these long-term complications need to be considered during treatment.

The number of patients with NHL who experience long-term fatigue after initial treatment and whether this fatigue is treatment-related remains under investigation.

This study involved 1671 patients with NHL. Patients were given questionnaires about their fatigue. 49% of patients were treated with chemotherapy. 31% of patients were treated with intensive chemotherapy. 20% received intensive chemotherapy and a bone marrow transplant. Patients were followed-up for an average of 11 years.

Overall, 17% of patients reported feeling fatigued right after treatment. 27% of patients reported moderate fatigue. 37% of patients reported severe fatigue. 36% of the patients did not report any fatigue.

Overall, 1100 patients (66%) reported 1 or more late complications after treatment. Fatigue was significantly correlated with obesity. Patients with a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or more had significantly more fatigue compared to patients with a BMI of less than 30 (37% vs. 25%).

Severe fatigue was not associated with any specific type of cancer or treatment.

This study concluded that severe fatigue is common in patients with NHL. The authors suggest that this fatigue was not due to initial chemotherapy treatment.

This study used self-reported patient data. This may limit the conclusions that may be drawn from these results. Also, the patients in this study were French. Therefore, these results may not be applicable to all patients.