The study reviewed 113 past trials that included more than 11,000 adult cancer patients—80 percent of which were women—with an average age of 54. It revealed that exercise alone, or with the addition of behavioral and educational therapy, appeared to be more effective in treating cancer-related fatigue than prescription medications.
Cancer-related fatigue is distinct from regular tiredness—it’s a feeling of total exhaustion even after adequate rest. The patient’s limbs may feel heavier and they may struggle to find the energy for even the simplest tasks. While this affects the patient’s overall quality of life, it can also worsen their prognosis by interfering with treatment regimens.
In the study, researchers reviewed the impact of four different approaches to treatment. The first was exercise alone and included activities like walking, swimming, and weightlifting. The second was a mental health approach that provided information to help patients better understand and cope with their condition. The third approach combined exercise and some psychological treatment, and the fourth reviewed the efficacy of prescription drugs and stimulant medications.
All four treatment approaches yielded positive results and improved cancer-related fatigue, although exercise therapy alone was found to produce the best outcomes.
Psychological therapies also produced similarly positive results, as did the combination of exercise and mental health interventions, with the prescription drugs bringing up the rear. These findings allowed the researchers to conclude that exercise either alone or in combination with psychological therapy was more effective in treating cancer-related fatigue than prescription drugs.
The majority of the studies reviewed focused on patients who had been sedentary and were placed on low- or moderate-intensity workout schedules that included activities like yoga and resistance training. This suggests that the level of exercise needed to see these benefits is easily achievable. The team recommends that patients and survivors who are not regular exercisers do what they can to avoid inactivity.