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Fatigue in Breast Cancer Survivors

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Breast Cancer Survivorship

Abstract

Fatigue is a common symptom amongst cancer survivors which can have a significant impact on quality of life even in those who have completed treatment many years previously. It appears that a combination of genetic predisposition, environmental exposure, tumor and treatment factors combine to put women at increased risk of fatigue, but the precise mechanisms are not well understood. The fatigue experienced by cancer survivors is best regarded as a multidimensional symptom involving the subjective experience of tiredness, weakness and lack of energy. However there is a lack of consensus as to the optimal means by which to measure fatigue, and partly as a consequence of this, interventions to ameliorate this distressing symptom are not well established. This chapter examines what is known of the prevalence and natural history of fatigue amongst breast cancer survivors, with guidance as to the differential diagnosis and potential management strategies.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. The Breast Unit, The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, Surrey, UK

    Belinda Kingston MBChB, BSc & Marta Capelan MD

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  1. Belinda Kingston MBChB, BSc
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  2. Marta Capelan MD
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Correspondence to Marta Capelan MD .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, Sutton, United Kingdom

    Alistair Ring

  2. The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom

    Marina Parton

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Kingston, B., Capelan, M. (2016). Fatigue in Breast Cancer Survivors. In: Ring, A., Parton, M. (eds) Breast Cancer Survivorship. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-41858-2_20

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-41858-2_20

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