Nursing Interventions for Symptom Management in Breast Cancer: A Systematic Review

Breast cancer (BC) is among the most common types of cancer among women globally, with a significant impact on both physical and psychological health. The treatment for BC, including chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and hormonal therapy, frequently results in symptoms including pain, fatigue, anxiety, depression, and sleep disturbances. These symptoms can markedly diminish patients' quality of life and overall well-being.

This review aimed to identify the effectiveness of nursing interventions for symptom management in patients with breast cancer.

A systematic review was conducted by searching four electronic databases (PubMed, EBSCOhost, ScienceDirect, and SAGE Journals) for studies published between 2002 and 2025. Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating nursing interventions for symptom management in patients with breast cancer were included. The search strategy used keywords related to breast cancer, symptom management, and nursing interventions.

18 studies involving 3,937 patients met the inclusion criteria. The interventions were categorised into three domains: psychological and behavioural interventions, nursing care coordination, and physical and educational interventions. Nursing interventions contributed to the alleviation of both physical and psychological symptoms, thereby improving overall patient well-being and QoL.

Nursing interventions are essential for managing symptoms in breast cancer patients and improving both physical and psychological well-being. This review demonstrates the effectiveness of various interventions in alleviating common symptoms, including pain, fatigue, and emotional distress. Psychologically focused interventions and coordinated nurse-led care consistently showed the most substantial benefits in improving symptom management and overall quality of life. Future research should refine and validate these interventions to ensure their applicability in diverse clinical settings. Comprehensive, patient-centred nursing interventions are vital for optimising care and QoL in this population.