title: Determinants of fatigue 6 and 12 months after surgery in women with early-stage breast cancer: a comparison with women with benign breast problems.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this study was to examine the predictors of fatigue 6 and 12 months after surgical treatment in women with early-stage breast cancer (BC group) and in women with benign breast problems (BBP group) in a prospective follow-up study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Women entered the study prior to diagnosis and completed questionnaires on personality factors, psychological factors, and social support. Fatigue was assessed 6 and 12 months after diagnosis (BBP group) or surgical treatment (BC group). Clinical data were taken from medical records.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the BC group (n=117), fatigue at 6 months was predicted by trait anxiety (P<.001) and extraversion (P<.05). Trait anxiety (P<.05), extraversion (P<.05), and depressive symptoms (P<.05) predicted fatigue at 12 months. In the BBP group (n=190), the predictors were trait anxiety (P<.001) for fatigue at 6 months, and trait anxiety (P<.001) and neuroticism (P<.01) for fatigue at 12 months.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Many patients who are already fatigued before diagnosis remain tired regardless of diagnosis. Trait anxiety is strongly related to fatigue in both groups.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Psychology, CoRPS, Tilburg University, PO Box 90153, 5000 LE Tilburg, The Netherlands. j.devries@uvt.nl
authors.forename: Jolanda
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: De Vries
authors.forename: Alida F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Van der Steeg
authors.forename: Jan A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Roukema
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D001941:Breast Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D003071:Cognition; D003710:Demography; D005221:Fatigue / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D010554:Personality Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D011184:Postoperative Period; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012944:Social Support; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors