Fatigue

Cancer Patients Monitor Fatigue in Real-Time

Fatigue is one of the most common and distressing symptoms cancer patients experience during chemotherapy and radiation treatment. Researchers are studying fatigue in cancer patients undergoing stem cell transplants using a method successfully used to monitor behaviors such as smoking cessation and alcohol use. The method is called "ecological momentary assessment" (often referred to as real-time assessment), which provides an instant measurement of patients' fatigue. Patients used a device that is worn like a wristwatch to record the data.