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Fatigue is a common complication in cancer patients, particularly in those receiving chemotherapy, with important negative effects on quality of life. It is not sufficiently studied, not completely understood and does not receive adequate consideration. The aim of this study is to improve knowledge on epidemiology, aetiology and treatment of fatigue in cancer patients in Italy. Answers to a questionnaire administered to 300 hematologists and a similar number of patients with hematological cancer have been evaluated. According to the opinion of hematologists and the experience of patients, fatigue is the most frequent and long-lasting symptom in patients with hematological cancer compromising their quality of life. The majority of the patients of the study group reports fatigue along the course of their disease, and this symptom is prominent in how it affects the different aspects of quality of life: their daily routine, working and social interaction according to clinicians; physical and emotional well-being according to patients. The results of the hematologist study group found anemia to be the leading cause of cancer-related fatigue. For the management of the symptom, the treatment of anemia is mainly done with transfusion and drugs, and it is advisable in the majority of the patients. There is still debate on the definition of anemia: hemoglobin (Hb) levels < 8 g/dl according to one third of the clinicians and greater values up to 10-11 g/dl for the others. According to the hematologists of the study group, a treatment for fatigue is generally recommended for the majority of the cancer patients, yet patients reported that, on the contrary, 50% of their hematologists did not suggest any specific treatment for this aim.

Multiple myeloma still remains a fatal disease. However, in the last months new biological and clinical informations have been provided about this disease. In particular, the immunophenotype of myeloma cells seems indicate, in some patients, a clonal involvement of a stem cell in the pathogenesis of mieloma. Moreover, new biological insights concerning the cytokine network, have revealed a probable effect of some cytokines, such as IL6, IL3, IL4. Finally, new insights in the biology of multiple myeloma have been provided by studies of molecular biology and flow cytometry. As for therapy, the best conventional induction treatment still remains to be defined. In the last years, the increased use of alpha Interferon and new therapeutic modalities, such as transplantation procedures in multiple myeloma, open new hopes toward a cure of this disease. Therefore, in the future a better knowledge of the multiple myeloma biology, associated with a wider use of new effective therapeutic approaches will certainly improve the natural course of this disease.