title: Symptom Cluster Trajectories During Chemotherapy in Breast Cancer Outpatients.
abstract: Breast cancer patients often experience multiple symptoms and substantial discomfort. Some symptoms may occur simultaneously and throughout the duration of chemotherapy treatment.
  
  
  
  The aim of this study was to investigate symptom severity and symptom cluster trajectories during chemotherapy in outpatients with breast cancer in Taiwan.
  
  
  
  This prospective, longitudinal, repeated measures study administered a standardized questionnaire (M. D. Anderson Symptom Inventory Taiwan version) to 103 breast cancer patients during each day of the third 21-day cycle of chemotherapy. Latent class growth analysis was performed to examine symptom cluster trajectories.
  
  
  
  Three symptom clusters were identified within the first 14 days of the 21-day chemotherapy cycle: the neurocognition cluster (pain, shortness of breath, vomiting, memory problems, and numbness/tingling) with a trajectory of Y = 2.09 - 0.11 (days), the emotion-nausea cluster (nausea, disturbed sleep, distress/upset, drowsiness, and sadness) with a trajectory ofY = 3.57 - 0.20 (days), and the fatigue-anorexia cluster (fatigue, lack of appetite, and dry mouth) with a trajectory of Y = 4.22 - 0.21 (days). The "fatigue-anorexia cluster" and "emotion-nausea cluster" peaked at moderate levels on chemotherapy days 3-5, and then gradually decreased to mild levels within the first 14 days of the 21-day chemotherapy cycle.
  
  
  
  Distinct symptom clusters were observed during the third cycle of chemotherapy. Systematic and ongoing evaluation of symptom cluster trajectories during cancer treatment is essential. Healthcare providers can use these findings to enhance communication with their breast cancer patients and to prioritize symptoms that require attention and intervention.
authors.affiliation: College of Nursing, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Hsin-Tien
authors.initials: HT
authors.lastname: Hsu
authors.affiliation: Institute of Hospital and Health Care Administration, Community Research Center, National Yang Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Kuan-Chia
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: College of Nursing, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Li-Min
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Cancer Center, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chiung-Hui
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Juan
authors.affiliation: College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; Department of Surgery, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; Kaohsiung Municipal Hsiao-Kang Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Ming-Feng
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Hou
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing, Asia University, Taichung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Shiow-Li
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.affiliation: College of Nursing, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan. Electronic address: gn94yliu@kmu.edu.tw.
authors.forename: Yi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA.
authors.forename: Marylin J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Dodd
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013577:Syndrome; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: Symptom cluster; breast cancer; chemotherapy; trajectories