Wisconsin Ginseng for Decreasing Cancer Related Fatigue

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status: Recruiting

Sex: All

Target Recruitment: 160

Inclusion Criteria

Inclusion Criteria: - Age = 18 years - History of cancer-related fatigue as defined by an average score = 4 over the past 30 days on the numeric analogue scale. Patients can answer questions orally rather than completing worksheet - Baseline control of insomnia: Insomnia = 4 on Linear Analogue Scale. Patients can answer questions orally rather than completing worksheet - Baseline control of pain: Pain = 4 on Linear Analogue Scale. Patients can answer questions orally rather than completing worksheet - Life expectancy = 6 months - Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status (PS) 0, 1 or 2 - Hemoglobin = 10.0 g/dL (patients must not have been transfused in the preceding 90 days to meet this criterion) (= 180 days prior to registration) - Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) or aspartate transaminase (AST) = 3 x upper limit normal (ULN) (= 180 days prior to registration) - Creatinine = 1.5 x ULN (= 180 days prior to registration) - No clinical suspicion of hypothyroidism within 180 days prior to registration [if clinical suspicion of hypothyroidism exists, a documented thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) < 5 milli-international units per liter (mIU/L) is required] - Negative pregnancy test done = 7 days prior to registration, for persons of childbearing potential only - Ability to complete questionnaire(s) by themselves or with assistance - Provide informed consent Exclusion Criteria: - Any known hypersensitivity to ginseng - Currently using any other pharmacologic agents to specifically treat fatigue including psychostimulants or antidepressants. Note: Antidepressants used to treat items other than fatigue (such as hot flashes or depression) are allowed if the patient has been on a stable dose for = 30 days and plan to continue such for 8 weeks. Exercise is allowed - Psychiatric disorder such as poorly controlled depression, manic depressive disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, or schizophrenia (defined per medical history) - Use of erythropoietic agents = 6 months - Uncontrolled hypertension on more than three occasions (diastolic blood pressure = 100, systolic = 160) measured = 180 days prior to randomization - Surgery that required general anesthetic = 30 days prior to randomization - Malnutrition, active infection, severe depression, or significant pulmonary disease and cardiovascular disease (as determined by the attending clinician), as they could impact fatigue - Use of any over the counter herbal/dietary supplement marketed for fatigue or energy (for example, products containing any type of ginseng, Rhodiola rosea, guarana, or anything called an adaptogen) - Currently using an antidiabetic drug, warfarin or monamine oxide inhibitor - Treating provider anticipates a change to the anti-cancer treatment program in the next 8 weeks (i.e., the intervention period)