Fatigue in long-term breast carcinoma survivors : A longitudinal investigation

A longitudinal study was designed to evaluate the prevalence, persistence, and predictors of posttreatment fatigue in breast carcinoma survivors. A sample of 763 breast carcinoma survivors completed questionnaires at 1-5 and 5-10 years after diagnosis, including the RAND 36-item Health Survey, Cente...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Cancer 2006-02, Vol.106 (4), p.751-758
Main Authors: BOWER, Julienne E, GANZ, Patricia A, DESMOND, Katherine A, BERNAARDS, Coen, ROWLAND, Julia H, MEYEROWITZ, Beth E, BELIN, Thomas R
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aged
Biological and medical sciences
Breast Neoplasms - complications
Breast Neoplasms - drug therapy
Breast Neoplasms - pathology
Breast Neoplasms - radiotherapy
Comorbidity
Depression
Fatigue - epidemiology
Fatigue - etiology
Female
Gynecology. Andrology. Obstetrics
Health Surveys
Humans
Longitudinal Studies
Mammary gland diseases
Medical sciences
Middle Aged
Prevalence
Prognosis
Risk Factors
Tumors
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Summary:A longitudinal study was designed to evaluate the prevalence, persistence, and predictors of posttreatment fatigue in breast carcinoma survivors. A sample of 763 breast carcinoma survivors completed questionnaires at 1-5 and 5-10 years after diagnosis, including the RAND 36-item Health Survey, Center for Epidemiological Studies - Depression scale (CES-D), Breast Cancer Prevention Trial Symptom Checklist, and demographic and treatment-related measures. Approximately 34% of study participants reported significant fatigue at 5-10 years after diagnosis, which is consistent with prevalence estimates obtained at 1-5 years after diagnosis. Approximately 21% reported fatigue at both assessment points, indicating a more persistent symptom profile. Longitudinal predictors of fatigue included depression, cardiovascular problems, and type of treatment received. Women treated with either radiation or chemotherapy alone showed a small improvement in fatigue compared with those treated with both radiation and chemotherapy. Fatigue continues to be a problem for breast carcinoma survivors many years after cancer diagnosis, with 21% reporting persistent problems with fatigue. Several factors that may contribute to long-term fatigue are amenable to intervention, including depression and comorbid medical conditions.
ISSN:0008-543X
1097-0142
DOI:10.1002/cncr.21671