An update on cancer-related fatigue in older adults: A narrative review

Up to 70% of older adults report fatigue after a cancer diagnosis. For many of these patients, cancer-related fatigue (CRF) persists for years after cancer treatment and is associated with significant disability. Despite this, little has been written on the diagnosis and management of CRF in older adults. To address this gap, we performed a narrative review of the literature on CRF in older adults and used literature from the general population when evidence was lacking to provide guidance to clinical providers on how to tailor care to this population. We recommend evidence-based options for evaluating CRF and address their limitations in the assessment of older adults. We also provide guidance and a treatment algorithm on evaluating CRF using the Comprehensive Geriatrics Assessment. Lastly, we present evidence for the use of non-pharmacologic and pharmacologic therapies in the management of CRF in older adults.