QOL-58. ASSESSING FATIGUE EXPERIENCED BY PEDIATRIC PATIENTS WITH INTRACRANIAL NEOPLASMS

BACKGROUND: Indiana University possessed one of the earliest clinical proton facilities in the United States. The purpose of this study was to assess fatigue and nausea/vomiting in children with central nervous system (CNS) tumors undergoing radiation therapy as part of their treatment regimen, and to understand what factors influence fatigue. DESIGN: The study was approved by the institutional review board at Indiana University and consent and/or assent from eligible participants was obtained prior to enrollment. The validated Fatigue Scale is scored on a 5-point Likert scale. Surveys were completed 1) prior to radiation therapy, 2) week three of radiation therapy, and 3) week six of radiation therapy. A score of 41 or higher for the Fatigue Scale-Parent (< 7 years), 12 or higher for the Fatigue Scale-Child (8–12 years), and 17 or higher for the Fatigue Scale-Adolescent (13–18 years), indicates significant cancer-related fatigue. RESULTS: The study aimed to recruit a total of 50 patients during the eligible period; however, data on 31 individual participants were available for analysis. 25 patients underwent proton radiation therapy, while 6 patients underwent conventional photon therapy. The mean age of children was 8.8 years. Of the 31 patients, 22 recorded scores indicating significant cancer-related fatigue at some point during radiation therapy. CONCLUSIONS: Cancer related fatigue continues to be a challenge, with limited understanding of factors that might predict clinically relevant fatigue This work demonstrates the feasibility of conducting symptom research for children undergoing radiation therapy; further research is needed to characterize predictors of fatigue.