Sleepless and Spent in Survivorship: Fatigue and Insomnia in Breast Cancer Survivors

Background It is estimated that there are 3.8 million breast cancer survivors in the United States. Addressing survivors’ post-treatment needs is critical to providing quality healthcare. Methods A standardized questionnaire for breast cancer survivors was employed to assess the health status, chall...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The American surgeon 2022-11, Vol.88 (11), p.2730-2736
Main Authors: Boldyrev, Laura, Ghebremichael, Musie S., Lotz, Margaret M., Kovarie, Gabrielle, Kennedy, Kelly, Keates, Sarah, Pories, Susan E.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Breast cancer
Cancer therapies
Chemotherapy
Endocrine therapy
Fatigue
Genetic counseling
Health care
Insomnia
Lumpectomy
Mastectomy
Pain
Patients
Primary care
Quality of life
Questionnaires
Radiation
Radiation therapy
Side effects
Sleep disorders
Surgery
Survival
Therapy
Womens health
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Summary:Background It is estimated that there are 3.8 million breast cancer survivors in the United States. Addressing survivors’ post-treatment needs is critical to providing quality healthcare. Methods A standardized questionnaire for breast cancer survivors was employed to assess the health status, challenges, and concerns of our breast cancer patients at their survivorship visits, which were conducted 4 months after surgery. All patients were seen in the breast center at one community hospital over a 6-year period. Results Responses to a standardized questionnaire that was administered to 505 consecutive breast cancer patients at their survivorship visits 4 months after surgery were evaluated. The most striking finding was that 35% reported symptoms of insomnia, 26% had persistent fatigue, and 19% experienced fatigue that interfered with their usual activities. There was a significant association between symptoms of insomnia and radiation treatment (P = .004), pain (P < .001), hormone therapy (P < .01), and side effects of hormone therapy (P < .0001). There was also a significant association between fatigue and pain (P < .001) as well as side effects from hormone treatment (P = .0036). Conclusions Over a third (35%) of breast cancer patients suffer from insomnia, while over a quarter (26%) complain of fatigue at their survivorship assessments. Contributing factors include radiation treatment, pain, and hormonal therapy. Careful assessment and treatment of fatigue and symptoms of insomnia in breast cancer patients is needed to improve quality of life for survivors.
ISSN:0003-1348
1555-9823
DOI:10.1177/00031348221078949