title: Off-treatment fatigue in breast cancer survivors: a controlled comparison.
abstract: Fatigue is a common and distressing symptom following cancer treatment. Research examining "off-treatment" fatigue has been weakened by limited assessments of fatigue and lack of suitable comparison groups. The extent of off-treatment fatigue following treatment for breast cancer (BC) was examined. Women with BC (n = 88; mean, 28 months posttreatment) and age-matched women (n = 88) with benign breast problems (BBP), completed a set of fatigue questionnaires at an Initial assessment and a 4-month Follow-up assessment. The BC group reported more fatigue, more weakness, and less vitality relative to the BBP group at both assessments. No relationship was found in the BC group between fatigue and extent of treatment or time since treatment completion. While the results document the existence of off-treatment fatigue following BC, elucidation of the psychobiological processes underlying this symptom and development of clinical management strategies remain as challenges for future research.
authors.affiliation: Department of Behavioral Science, University of Kentucky College of Medicine, Lexington 40536-0086, USA.
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Andrykowski
authors.forename: S L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Curran
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lightner
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D001941:Breast Diseases / Q000473:pathology / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D005221:Fatigue / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011602:Psychophysiologic Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D011788:Quality of Life; D012803:Sick Role; D017741:Survivors / Q000523:psychology*; D016896:Treatment Outcome