Impact of adjuvant breast cancer chemotherapy on fatigue, other symptoms, and quality of life.
OBJECTIVE
To identify differences in fatigue, other physical symptoms, and psychological symptoms and their relationship to quality of life (QOL) during chemotherapy and as long as one year after.


METHODS
Longitudinal, descriptive design embedded in a pilot intervention study.


METHODS
Midwestern urban oncology clinics and patient homes.


METHODS
25 Caucasian women, aged 40-65 years (-X = 54.3), with stage I or II breast cancer receiving doxorubicin-based chemotherapy.


METHODS
The Piper Fatigue Scale, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, Symptom Experience Scale, and Medical Outcomes Study Short-Form General Health Survey were completed before and after each treatment; 30, 60, and 90 days after the last treatment; and one year after the first treatment.


METHODS
Fatigue, physical and psychological symptoms, and QOL.


RESULTS
Fatigue levels were moderately intense during treatments and decreased significantly over time. Sleep disturbances and pain were the most frequent, intense, and distressing other physical symptoms. Anxiety was highest at baseline, and depression was highest during the fourth chemotherapy treatment. Fatigue was correlated with other physical and psychological symptoms at some times during treatments and consistently following treatments. Higher fatigue was associated with lower QOL in several domains.


CONCLUSIONS
Fatigue is associated with other physical and psychological symptoms that fluctuate during and after treatment. Higher fatigue compromises QOL.


CONCLUSIONS
Interventions targeting primary or cluster symptoms can reduce the impact of adjuvant chemotherapy on fatigue, other symptoms, and QOL.
Department of Internal Medicine-Oncology/Hematology Section, University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha, USA. klbyar@unmc.edu
Katherine L
KL
Byar
Ann M
AM
Berger
Suzanne L
SL
Bakken
Melissa A
MA
Cetak
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D003863:Depression / Q000209:etiology*; D005221:Fatigue / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life