Cancer-Related Fatigue

Presentation Slides

Chinese Medicine Research Hub

Cohort Study

Suanzaoren decoction appears to improve sleep quality and reduce fatigue in lung cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy with some benefits also observed in objective sleep parameters.

2026 Medicine Clinical evaluation of Suanzaoren decoction for sleep disturbance and cancer-related fatigue in patients with lung cancer receiving chemotherapy: A retrospective study
Yang H, Zhou L, Huang Y, Yang T

Chinese Medicine Research Hub

Systematic Review

Acupuncture has therapeutic potential in management of cancer-related fatigue for cancer survivors.

2020 Integrative Cancer Therapies The Effects of Acupuncture on Cancer-Related Fatigue: Updated Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Jang A, Brown C, Lamoury G, Morgia M, Boyle F, Marr I, Clarke S, Back M, Oh B

Chinese Medicine Research Hub

Meta-Analysis

Acupuncture significantly reduces cancer-related fatigue, especially in breast cancer patients and those undergoing anti-cancer treatment.

2017 Supportive Care in Cancer Effects of acupuncture on cancer-related fatigue: a meta-analysis
Zhang, Y., Lin, L., Li, H., Hu, Y., & Tian, L.

Chinese Medicine Research Hub

Systematic Review

Although results are inconclusive, acupuncture and acupressure tend to be effective in relieving cancer related fatigue, with the former producing a greater improvement.

2014 Oncology Nursing Forum Effects of acupuncture and acupressure on cancer-related fatigue: a systematic review
Ling WM, Lui LY, So WK, Chan K.

Executive Summary

Write an executive summary in the form of a blog article on the topic of "Research into Chinese medicine treatment for Cancer-Related Fatigue" summarising the research below and using language that can be easily understood by patients and avoiding medical jargon using a professional and caring tone of voice.

Write an executive summary in the form of a blog article on the topic of "Researched Chinese medicine treatments for Cancer-Related Fatigue" summarising the research below in an objective and easy to understand way, and using language that can be easily understood by patients. Group the article into Chinese medicine treatments first, followed by nutrition and other treatments. Avoid using medical jargon and use a professional and caring tone of voice.

Write me a concise but easy to understand executive summary on the topic of "Chinese medicine treatments for Cancer-Related Fatigue" based on the following research that I will give you. Your summary should be 2 paragraphs long in Australian English spelling and include references to the studies.

A Cohort Study published in 2026 in the journal Medicine found that Suanzaoren decoction appears to improve sleep quality and reduce fatigue in lung cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy with some benefits also observed in objective sleep parameters. In this retrospective study, clinical data were collected from hospitalized patients with lung cancer who reported sleep disturbances. From this dataset, 38 patients who received Suanzaoren decoction as part of their treatment in addition to standard care were compared to 37 patients who only received standard care. Sleep quality was evaluated using a specific sleep quality assessment tool, and fatigue levels were assessed using a cancer fatigue scale. For patients with available data, objective sleep parameters were also tracked using actigraphy monitoring. The primary findings of the study showed that patients who were administered Suanzaoren decoction had notably lower scores in sleep quality assessment after treatment compared to the control group. Similarly, their fatigue scores were also considerably lower. Actigraphy-informed parameters indicated that total sleep duration and the proportion of deep sleep were higher in the group that received the Suanzaoren decoction. No adverse reactions were recorded in the study.

A Systematic Review published in 2020 in the journal Integrative Cancer Therapies found that Acupuncture has therapeutic potential in management of cancer-related fatigue for cancer survivors. Given that CRF is a debilitating symptom among cancer survivors that has proven complex to manage, it is important to explore a wide range of treatment options. The findings of this systematic review and meta-analysis suggest that acupuncture has clinical applications in the management of CRF in conjunction with standard care. Investigating the physiological mechanisms underlying the effects of acupuncture on CRF with biomarkers including cytokines will provide important insights into future clinical applications. Acupuncture for cancer survivors with fatigue, particularly those receiving chemotherapy and radiation therapy that induce fatigue, can have a beneficial effect on fatigue and overall quality of life, when used as an adjunctive intervention to conventional cancer care. Therefore, it is recommended that acupuncture be incorporated into guidelines for the management of CRF in order to improve patient care.

A Meta-Analysis published in 2017 in the journal Supportive Care in Cancer found that Acupuncture significantly reduces cancer-related fatigue, especially in breast cancer patients and those undergoing anti-cancer treatment. In the methodology, seven different medical databases were systematically reviewed for randomized controlled trials concerning the effects of acupuncture on cancer-related fatigue up until November 2016. Two independent reviewers assessed for bias and extracted correlated data with the use of Review Manager 5. Ten trials met the eligibility criteria for the meta-analysis, which incorporated a total of 1327 patients; 733 received acupuncture and 594 served as control. The results showed that acupuncture markedly mitigated fatigue in cancer patients irrespective of whether they were simultaneously undergoing anti-cancer treatment, with particularly substantial effects among those with breast cancer. The duration and frequency of acupuncture sessions varied, but all schedules produced meaningful effects. While a majority of the trials reported no negative events, one highlighted manageable incidents such as spot bleeding and bruising. Overall, acupuncture was found to be a successful method for managing cancer-related fatigue.

A Systematic Review published in 2014 in the journal Oncology Nursing Forum found that Although results are inconclusive, acupuncture and acupressure tend to be effective in relieving cancer related fatigue, with the former producing a greater improvement. Although results are inconclusive, acupuncture and acupressure tend to be effective in relieving CRF, with the former producing a greater improvement. Future research is recommended to contribute further evidence. Implications for Nursing: Nurses should know about the relative effectiveness of acupuncture and acupressure in the management of CRF to educate and support their patients.

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