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Fatigue after treatment for early stage breast cancer

A controlled comparison

  1. Paul B. Jacobsen PhD1,†,*,
  2. Kristine A. Donovan PhD2,
  3. Brent J. Small PhD1,2,
  4. Heather S. Jim PhD2,
  5. Pamela N. Munster MD3,
  6. Michael A. Andrykowski PhD4

Article first published online: 10 SEP 2007

DOI: 10.1002/cncr.22993

Issue

Cancer

Cancer

Volume 110, Issue 8, pages 1851–1859, 15 October 2007

Additional Information

How to Cite

Jacobsen, P. B., Donovan, K. A., Small, B. J., Jim, H. S., Munster, P. N. and Andrykowski, M. A. (2007), Fatigue after treatment for early stage breast cancer. Cancer, 110: 1851–1859. doi: 10.1002/cncr.22993

Author Information

  1. 1

    Health Outcomes and Behavior Program, Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, Tampa, Florida

  2. 2

    School of Aging Studies, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida

  3. 3

    Breast Cancer Program, Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, Tampa, Florida

  4. 4

    Department of Behavioral Science, University of Kentucky College of Medicine, Lexington, Kentucky

  1. †

    Fax: (813) 745-3906

*Health Outcomes and Behavior Program, Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, 12902 Magnolia Dr., MRC-PSY, Tampa, FL 33612

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 19 SEP 2007
  2. Article first published online: 10 SEP 2007
  3. Manuscript Accepted: 25 MAY 2007
  4. Manuscript Revised: 24 MAY 2007
  5. Manuscript Received: 20 FEB 2007

Funded by

  • National Cancer Institute. Grant Number: R01 CA82822

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Keywords:

  • fatigue;
  • breast cancer;
  • adjuvant therapy;
  • survivorship

Abstract

BACKGROUND.

Evidence suggests that fatigue may be a greater problem for cancer survivors than people without cancer. The present study sought to determine whether fatigue was greater in women who had completed treatment for early-stage breast cancer relative to a demographically matched comparison group of women with no cancer history.

METHODS.

As part of a larger study, women with stage 0-II breast cancer were recruited before the start of chemotherapy and radiotherapy (n = 100) or radiotherapy only (n = 121). Fatigue was assessed at the end of treatment and 2, 4, and 6 months later. An age- and geographically matched sample of women with no history of cancer was recruited and assessed for comparison purposes.

RESULTS.

Relative to comparison subjects, breast cancer survivors reported more days of fatigue in the past week at all 4 study assessments (P < .05). These differences appeared to be clinically meaningful in that a greater percentage of patients than nonpatients earned scores in the abnormal range on this measure at each assessment (P < .05). Additional analyses indicated that differences in fatigue between patients and comparison subjects were attributable primarily to heightened fatigue in women who received both chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

CONCLUSIONS.

Findings suggest that fatigue is a greater problem for breast cancer survivors in the 6 months after completion of chemotherapy than for women with no cancer history. Future research should include longer-term follow-up to determine the persistence of fatigue in this population of survivors. Cancer 2007. © 2007 American Cancer Society.

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