Modafinil in Treating Fatigue in Patients Receiving Chemotherapy for Cancer

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Diagnosis of cancer * Concurrently receiving or has previously received chemotherapy and is scheduled for at least 3 additional courses of chemotherapy * Each course of chemotherapy must be at least 2 weeks in duration * No concurrent radiotherapy or interferon therapy * Brief Fatigue Inventory question #3 "fatigue worst" score of 2 or greater 1 week after first chemotherapy course PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age * 18 and over Performance status * Not specified Life expectancy * At least 6 months Hematopoietic * Not specified Hepatic * No uncontrolled anemia Renal * Not specified Cardiovascular * No history of clinically significant cardiac disease, including any of the following: * Unstable angina * Left ventricular hypertrophy * Ischemic echocardiogram changes * Chest pain * Arrhythmia * Other clinically significant manifestations of mitral valve prolapse in association with use of central nervous system stimulants (e.g., caffeine, amphetamines, or methylphenidate) * No uncontrolled hypertension Gastrointestinal * Able to swallow medication * No narrowing (pathological or iatrogenic) or obstruction of the gastrointestinal tract Other * No severe headaches * No glaucoma * No seizure disorder * No narcolepsy * No psychotic disorder * No Tourette's syndrome * No alcohol or drug abuse * Not pregnant or nursing * Fertile patients must use effective barrier contraception during and for at least 1 full menstrual cycle after study completion PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy * See Disease Characteristics Chemotherapy * See Disease Characteristics Endocrine therapy * No concurrent chronic corticosteroids Radiotherapy * See Disease Characteristics Surgery * Not specified Other * No prior modafinil * At least 30 days since prior regular use of psychostimulants (e.g., amphetamines, methylphenidate, or pemoline) or monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) * No concurrent alcohol * Concurrent acetaminophen with codeine or hydrocodone bitartrate allowed * Concurrent phenytoin allowed * Concurrent warfarin for anticoagulation and low-dose warfarin (1 mg by mouth daily) for maintenance of venous access devices allowed