Exercise for the management of cancer-related fatigue in lung cancer: a systematic review

Abstract

Cancer-related fatigue is a common, persistent and disabling side-effect of the cancer and its treatments. Exercise, once was contraindicated, is now the key non-pharmacological management for cancer-related fatigue. However, the role of exercise in lung cancer cohort is not clear. A computerised database search was undertaken using keyword search in the CENTRAL, PubMed, EMBASE, CINAHL, SPORTDiscus, AMED and Web of Science. Ten relevant articles were reviewed; the evidence on this cohort was found to be limited, warrants further research. However, the available evidence from other than lung cancer groups shows significant beneficial effects of exercises on cancer-related fatigue. Hence, exercises could possibly be used in the management of cancer-related fatigue in this cohort with due caution until more robust evidences are available.

Keywords: cancer-related fatigue; exercise; lung cancer; symptom management.