Fatigue

Fatigue is one of the most common symptoms encountered by palliative care patients, affecting more than 80% or patients, and is the most associated with moderate/severe distress. It is defined as the subjective feeling or tiredness, weakness or lack of energy and can affect people physically, emotionally and cognitively. It affects those with cancer and non-cancer diagnoses. It is frequently under-recognised, significantly impacting on a patient's quality of life, independence and dignity.

Tired woman lying on couch with her hand to her head

Events

Commencing in July 2023, Cancer Symptom Trials (CST) is hosting national and international presenters with expertise in fatigue as part of the Facing Fatigue Seminar Series.

This free, online seminar series aims to build researcher and clinician capacity to better manage fatigue for people living with, or after cancer.

Find out more and register

Research program

The Fatigue SNSC aims to improve our understanding of fatigue in the palliative care and cancer populations - both the impact it has on patients and carers, and how best we should be managing it. Our program of work includes a prospective analysis of PCOC data, qualitative studies for both patients' experiences and healthcare professionals' management strategies, the use of education tools, multi-disciplinary randomised controlled trials, and IMPACCT Rapid program series.

Interested in finding out more? To express your interest in joining the Fatigue SNSC, email paccsc@uts.edu.au (palliative interest) or cst@uts.edu.au (cancer symptom interest).

Subcommittee Chair

DR Gemma Ingham is smiling at the camera. She has long brong hair and is wearing a black top with white spots.

Dr Gemma Ingham is a palliative care specialist and lead cancer clinical trialist at Prince of Wales Hospital in Sydney. She is the chair of the PaCCSC/CST Fatigue symptom node subcommittee and has a number of peer-reviewed publications.

Gemma is the primary investigator in a phase 2, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study to investigate the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of ponsegromab in patients with cancer and cachexia, and a Q-stream based clinician education module for fatigue.

She works as part of a busy consult and clinic service, caring for patients with both malignant and non-malignant conditions. Gemma has a passion for research and hopes that by contributing to the growing body of evidence, she can improve the level of care and the quality of life of her vulnerable patients. Her research interests are in fatigue and cachexia management.

Acknowledgement of Country

UTS acknowledges the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation, the Boorooberongal people of the Dharug Nation, the Bidiagal people and the Gamaygal people, upon whose ancestral lands our university stands. We would also like to pay respect to the Elders both past and present, acknowledging them as the traditional custodians of knowledge for these lands.