Women who survive cancer are more likely than men to have fatigue and depression

Women who survive cancer are more likely to experience cancer-related fatigue and depression than men, according to new research presented Tuesday at the American Association for Cancer Research’s annual meeting in Chicago.

Women who survive cancer are more likely to experience cancer-related fatigue and depression than men, according to new research presented Tuesday at the American Association for Cancer Research’s annual meeting in Chicago.

As a result, women are less likely to engage in recreational physical activity, which over time exacerbates their symptoms and lowers their quality of life, the research suggests. 

The new findings build on previous research that found women develop more severe side effects during cancer treatment than men. They also underscore the “very real consequences” that cancer treatment can have for women after they’ve entered remission, said Joseph Unger, a biostatician and cancer researcher with the Fred Hutch Cancer Center in Seattle who was not involved in the study. 

“Cancer treatments are becoming more effective at keeping patients alive and turning cancer into more of a chronic disease,” said Unger, who studies cancer patients’ quality of life. “Understandably, patients don’t want to just live, they want to live well. So, that’s really where this research helps to point us in the next direction.”

Dr. Simo Du, lead author of the study and internal medicine resident physician at NYC Health + Hospitals/Jacobi, had noticed that many more female than male cancer survivors in her clinic were complaining of fatigue that made it hard to shop for groceries, get dressed, shower and do other social or hygiene-related activities.