title: Fatigue, weight gain, and altered sexuality in patients with breast cancer: exploration of a symptom cluster.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To identify the symptom cluster of fatigue, weight gain, and altered sexuality caused by treatment for breast cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  Published research and literature review articles.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fatigue, weight gain, and altered sexuality commonly occur after breast cancer chemotherapy. Each symptom has a significant impact on quality of life; however, viewing them as a symptom cluster magnifies their impact.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These symptoms have yet to be studied as a cluster. Exercise appears to be an intervention common to each that may be effective in reducing the severity of these treatment side effects.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Nurses should view symptoms caused by breast cancer treatment holistically, keeping in mind that a reciprocal relationship often exists among symptoms. Identification of symptom clusters with empirically derived interventions may enhance quality of care and quality of life for patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Adult Health Nursing in the School of Nursing in the College of Health and Human Services at the University of North Carolina, Charlotte, USA. mcwilmot@email.uncc.edu <mcwilmot@email.uncc.edu>
authors.forename: Margaret Chamberlain
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Wilmoth
authors.forename: Elizabeth Ann
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Coleman
authors.forename: Steven C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: Carla
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Davis
mesh_terms: D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*; D005221:Fatigue / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D012735:Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D015430:Weight Gain