PURLs

Finally, a Way to Relieve Cancer-related Fatigue

A four-week course of American ginseng, taken while patients are undergoing radiation or chemotherapy, can help.

Author and Disclosure Information

 

PRACTICE CHANGER

Recommend American ginseng (1,000 mg bid) for four weeks to improve cancer-related fatigue in patients who are undergoing radiation or chemotherapy; no other treatment has been shown to be effective.1

STRENGTH OF RECOMMENDATION

B: Based on a single well-done randomized controlled trial (RCT).1

ILLUSTRATIVE CASE

A 54-year-old woman is receiving chemotherapy for adenocarcinoma of the right breast (T2N1M0) and has persistent, disabling fatigue. She has been unable to work or care for her family since starting chemotherapy. She says she gets enough sleep and denies being depressed or in pain. Lab testing for anemia and thyroid dysfunction is negative. Is there a safe and effective intervention?

On the next page: Study summary >>

Pages

Recommended Reading

Painless Lesion Interferes With Man’s Vision
Clinician Reviews
New Mega-review Underscores Mammography’s Benefits
Clinician Reviews
A 10-Year Wait for Diagnosis
Clinician Reviews
Obesity and Gynecologic Cancer
Clinician Reviews
Gynecologic Oncology Consult: Ruling Out Malignancy of an Adnexal Mass
Clinician Reviews
What’s Old is New Again for Actinic Keratoses Treatment
Clinician Reviews
CDC: Policy Changes Could Prevent 100,000 Deaths a Year
Clinician Reviews
Vitamin D Deficiency Predicts Aggressive Prostate Cancer
Clinician Reviews
Breast Cancer Subtypes Vary Across Population Groups
Clinician Reviews
Watch for Side Effects of Novel Melanoma Therapies
Clinician Reviews