Table 8 Differences between younger (< 60, n = 263) and older (≥ 60, n = 330) patients in rankings of symptoms with the highest occurrence, severity, frequency, and distress ratings

Rank

< 60

≥ 60

Symptom

% of patients

Symptom

% of patients

1

Lack of energy

81.7

Lack of energy

69.1

2

Pain

73.0

Pain

57.0

3

Feeling drowsy

65.0

Feeling drowsy

53.6

4

Difficulty sleeping

63.9

Difficulty sleeping

44.8

5

Worrying

57.8

Dry mouth

42.1

6

Difficulty concentrating

57.0

Difficulty concentrating

37.0

7

Feeling sad

52.1

Problems with urination

36.1

8

Feeling irritable

51.7

Cough

35.5

9

Sweats

45.2

Shortness of breath

32.1

10

Dry mouth

43.7

Worrying

32.1

Feeling irritable

32.1

SEVERITY RATINGS

Rank

Symptom

Mean score

Symptom

Mean score

1

Problems with sexual interest

2.50

Problems with sexual interest

2.72

2

Hair loss

2.38

Hair loss

2.37

3

Constipation

2.38

Constipation

2.19

4

Difficulty sleeping

2.23

Difficulty sleeping

2.16

5

Swelling of arms or legs

2.19

Lack of energy

2.13

6

Lack of energy

2.15

Pain

2.12

7

Sweats

2.14

Swelling of arms or legs

2.09

8

I don’t look like myself

2.14

Problems with urination

2.01

9

Worrying

2.10

Shortness of breath

2.00

10

Pain

2.08

Lack of appetite

2.00

FREQUENCY RATINGS

Rank

Symptom

Mean score

Symptom

Mean score

1

Problems with sexual interest

2.86

Problems with sexual interest

2.89

2

Hair loss

2.85

Hair loss

2.85

3

Lack of energy

2.82

Lack of energy

2.74

4

Changes in skin

2.77

Swelling of arms or legs

2.70

5

Difficulty sleeping

2.70

Numbness/tingling in hands/feet

2.68

6

Swelling of arms or legs

2.67

Lack of appetite

2.64

7

I don’t look like myself

2.67

Difficulty sleeping

2.63

8

Dry mouth

2.66

Pain

2.62

9

Pain

2.64

Problems with urination

2.61

10

Numbness/tingling in hands/feet

2.63

Changes in taste

2.60

DISTRESS RATINGS

Rank

Symptom

Mean score

Symptom

Mean score

1

Constipation

2.09

Problems with sexual interest

2.03

2

Problems with sexual interest

2.08

Constipation

1.80

3

Lack of energy

2.04

Problems with urination

1.70

4

Pain

2.01

Pain

1.69

5

Difficulty sleeping

2.01

Difficulty sleeping

1.66

6

Worrying

1.93

Lack of energy

1.64

7

I don’t look like myself

1.89

Difficulty swallowing

1.63

8

Feeling sad

1.87

Swelling of arms or legs

1.58

9

Feeling bloated

1.85

Shortness of breath

1.47

10

Nausea

1.84

Worrying

1.46