Differences in fatigue by treatment methods in women with breast cancer

To investigate the differences between various cancer therapies (radiation, hormonal, chemotherapy, and their combinations) and the specific dimensions of fatigue (affective meaning, behavioral/severity, cognitive/mood, and sensory).

Descriptive, cross-sectional, mailed survey design.

Data were collected from women who were breast cancer survivors and members of a nonprofit educational organization in the North-east. Criteria for this study included no self-reported disease recurrence, and treatment was within 18 months prior to the mailed survey (N = 322). The typical participant was middle-aged (mean = 52.2; SD = 10.3), Caucasian (93%), postmenopausal (55%), and diagnosed with cancer 2.42 (SD = 2.6) years prior to the study.

Secondary data analysis from a study using the Piper Fatigue Scale.

Level of fatigue.

Significant differences were found by treatment in total fatigue scores (p < 0.03) and cognitive/mood scores (p < 0.05). Women who received combination therapy had the highest fatigue scores (mean = 4.8; SD = 2.0); those who received only radiation therapy had the lowest fatigue scores (mean = 2.7; SD = 2.0).

Fatigue in breast cancer survivors varies by type of cancer therapy. Future studies are needed to investigate the relationships between fatigue and hormonal therapy, and they need to be designed to examine changes over time.

Study findings advance knowledge about fatigue in women with breast cancer and aid nurses in providing anticipatory guidance for women undergoing different treatment regimens.