PRELIMINARY STUDY ON FATIGUE IN BREAST CANCER SURVIVORS

Abstract

Introduction. Fatigue is the most common and stressful side effect of cancer and its treatments and it occurs not only during these but it is a condition that can persist even many years after the end anti-cancer treatment (Bower E. et al., 2006) interfering substantially with the activities of daily life of the subject (Lavoy E. et al., 2016; (Fatigoni S. et al.,2015). It has been estimated that between 19% and 38% of cancer survivors experience significant levels of fatigue after treatment (ibidem, 2016). It has been shown that the onset and severity of this syndrome is not related to the type of cancer or treatment variables, making it difficult to identify populations with the greatest risk of fatigue (ibidem, 2016; Bower E. et al., 2006; Jones J.M. et al.,2016). Cancer and its treatments could explain the experience of fatigue during the course of the disease while its presence after the end anti-cancer treatment could be caused not only by the side effects of the treatment but also by the representation of the patient’s illness, a concept linked to the coping strategies used (Corbett T. et al., 2016). Knowledge about the presence of fatigue in breast cancer survivors is very limited. This syndrome has been shown to have a 30% prevalence in breast cancer survivors (Alexander S. et al 2009, Andrykosky M. et al., 2005; Reinertsen K.V. et al., 2010). The aim of the study is to assess the impact of fatigue on breast cancer survivors’ quality of life and to assess the relationship between fatigue and patients’ strategies to cope illness. Method. 30 women breast cancer survivors (in follow-up from 1 to 10 years) were tested with the following instruments: Distress Thermometer, EORTC-C30, MINI MAC and Fatigue Severity Scale. Results. The major results show that there is a negative correlation between the fatigue and quality of life (r = -, 618; p = 0.01) and there is a positive correlation between the fatigue and the “anxious preoccupation” coping style( r =, 462; p = 0.05) and “helplessness-hopelessness” (r =, 478; p = 0.01) but there is a negative correlation between the fatigue and fighting spirit (r = -, 427; p = 0.05). Conclusions. The negative association between fatigue and overall quality of life observed in this and other studies highlights the importance of identifying and treating this group of fatigued women. Results from this study also may be useful in improving specific psychological intervention after the end of anticancer treatment.