Fatigue and Symptom Burden in Low-Risk Cancer Patients Undergoing Treatment for Febrile Neutropenia

PRIMARY OBJECTIVES I. To determine whether fatigue improves as patients are treated for
febrile neutropenia (Day #1, Day #2 and Day #6).

SECONDARY OBJECTIVES I. To identify clinical factors associated in cancer patients with low
risk for outpatient treatment of febrile neutropenia on either outpatient febrile neutropenia
treatment pathway presenting with moderate to severe fatigue.

II. To describe demographic information in cancer patients with low risk for outpatient
treatment of febrile neutropenia and fatigue while enrolled in either of two outpatient
febrile neutropenia treatment pathways.

OUTLINE:

Patients complete a questionnaire on days 1, 2, and 6 regarding fatigue, sleep disturbance,
depression, and other symptoms.

Inclusion Criteria:

- Cancer patients with solid tumors at low risk for outpatient treatment of febrile
neutropenia evaluated in the EC and enrolled in outpatient febrile neutropenia
pathways (pathway 1 or 2). Low risk is defined as hemodynamically stable solid tumor
patients that do not have pneumonia or are on steroids. Febrile neutropenia is marked
by a temperature greater than or equal to 38.3 degrees Celsius and an absolute
neutrophil count (ANC) less than or equal to 1000 within 24 hours.

- Patients must be able to speak, read and write in English.

- Patients must be able to complete the required survey tools independently.

- Patients must report a moderate to severe fatigue level to question # 3 of the Brief
Fatigue Inventory (BFI) (4 or greater on a 0-10 scale) on EC admission day.

- Pregnant women if they meet eligibility criteria of the febrile neutropenia (NF)
pathway and are able to take the oral/intravenous (IV) antibiotic prescribed by the
pathway.

Exclusion Criteria:

- Patients will be excluded from the study if they are not on the neutropenic pathway at
the time of study entry.