Fatigue in women receiving adjuvant chemotherapy for breast cancer: Characteristics, course, and correlates

This study investigated the characteristics, course, and correlates of fati gue in women receiving adjuvant chemotherapy for breast cancer. Fifty-four patients were assessed before the start of chemotherapy and during the firs t three treatment cycles. An age-matched sample of women with no cancer his tory was assessed at similar time intervals for comparison purposes. Result s indicated that breast cancer patients experienced worse fatigue than wome n with no cancer history. These differences were evident before and after p atients started chemotherapy. lit addition, fatigue worsened among patients after treatment started. More severe fatigue before treatment was associat ed with poorer performance status and the presence of fatigue-related sympt oms (e.g, sleep problems and muscle weakness). Increases in fatigue after c hemotherapy started were associated with continued fatigue-related symptoms and the development of chemotherapy side effects (e.g., nausea and mouth s ores). These findings demonstrate the clinical significance of fatigue in b reast cancer patients before and during adjuvant chemotherapy treatment. Re sults also suggest that aggressive management of common side effects, such as nausea and pain, may be useful in relieving chemotherapy-related fatigue . J Pain Symptom Manage 1999;18:233-242. (C) U.S. Cancer Pain Relief Commit tee, 1999.