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Afreen Shariff: Fatigue and Cancer – Sign of a Toxicity or Symptom of Cancer?

Afreen Shariff/LinkedIn

May 12, 2025, 10:06

Afreen Shariff: Fatigue and Cancer – Sign of a Toxicity or Symptom of Cancer?

Afreen Shariff, Associate Director of Cancer Therapy Toxicity Program at the Center for Cancer Immunotherapy, Duke Cancer Institute and Co-Founder of Citrus Oncology, shared a post on LinkedIn:

“Fatigue and cancer: Sign of a toxicity or symptom of cancer?

Cancer-related fatigue (CRF) is one of the most common and distressing symptoms patients face – often more debilitating than pain, nausea, or depression. But in the world of targeted therapies and immunotherapy the symptom of fatigue is multi dimensional.

It’s not just about ‘being tired.’ Up to 60% of patients report moderate-to-severe fatigue during treatment. 20–30% continue to experience fatigue long into survivorship. In Onco Endocrinology, the most common symptom of an endocrine irAE (hypo/hyperthyroidism, Adrenal insufficiency, Type 1 Diabetes) IS fatigue. Despite its prevalence, fatigue in cancer remains underdiagnosed and undertreated.

It’s time we treated fatigue like the serious clinical issue it is – not a secondary symptom. At Citrus Oncology, we’re rethinking symptom management – bringing timely, targeted support to improve energy, function, and quality of life in cancer care.

Tune in to join me and my co-host Pauline Funchain and guest expert, medical oncologist, palliative care specialist Dr. Eric Roeland, MD as we share perspectives, shared responsibility and action to different symptoms of cancer from signs of an irAE. Accompanying blog post by Dr. Eric Roeland, MD in the comments.”

Proceed to the podcast attached to the post.

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