PURPOSE Breast cancer patients receiving adjuvant radiotherapy (RT) benefit from local control. However, RT can give rise to increased fatigue, lowering quality of life. The aim of this study was to prospectively identify trends and risk factors in patient-reported fatigue associated with breast RT. MATERIAL AND METHODS Patients were assessed using the Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale (ESAS) before, once per week during RT, up to 6 weeks after RT completion, and 1-3 months post RT. Patients were included in the analysis if the ESAS was completed before, at least once during, and at least once after RT. RESULTS A total of 651 patients were included. Fatigue scores increased significantly during weeks 1-3 (p < 0.001) and weeks 5-6 (p < 0.0001) during RT compared to baseline. After RT completion, fatigue scores did not change significantly compared to baseline. Mastectomy patients who received previous chemotherapy experienced significantly more fatigue compared to mastectomy patients without previous chemotherapy (p = 0.0002). Patients less than 50 (p = 0.002), 50-59 (p = 0.007), or 60-69 (p = 0.048) years of age at RT start were more likely to have higher proportions of moderate or severe fatigue compared to patients ≥ 70 years of age. CONCLUSIONS Fatigue associated with breast irradiation increased up to 6 weeks during RT and returned to near baseline scores at 1-3 months post treatment. Given that fatigue was significant in mastectomy patients, further research is needed to reduce fatigue among this cohort, especially those who have received previous chemotherapy and younger patients who are receiving breast RT.

中文翻译：

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辅助乳房放疗对患者报告的疲劳的影响。

目的 接受辅助放疗 (RT) 的乳腺癌患者受益于局部控制。然而，放疗会增加疲劳，降低生活质量。本研究的目的是前瞻性地确定患者报告的与乳房放疗相关的疲劳的趋势和危险因素。材料和方法 使用埃德蒙顿症状评估量表 (ESAS) 在放疗前、每周一次、放疗完成后 6 周和放疗后 1-3 个月对患者进行评估。如果 ESAS 在 RT 之前、期间至少一次以及在 RT 之后至少一次完成，则患者被纳入分析。结果共纳入651例患者。与基线相比，RT 期间第 1-3 周 (p < 0.001) 和第 5-6 周 (p < 0.0001) 的疲劳评分显着增加。RT完成后，与基线相比，疲劳评分没有显着变化。与未接受过化疗的乳房切除术患者相比，接受过化疗的乳房切除术患者的疲劳感显着增加（p = 0.0002）。与 ≥ 的患者相比，RT 开始时年龄小于 50 (p = 0.002)、50-59 (p = 0.007) 或 60-69 (p = 0.048) 岁的患者中度或重度疲劳的比例更高70岁。结论 与乳房照射相关的疲劳在放疗期间增加了长达 6 周，并在治疗后 1-3 个月恢复到接近基线评分。鉴于乳房切除术患者的疲劳显着，需要进一步研究以减少该队列的疲劳，特别是那些接受过先前化疗的患者和接受乳房放疗的年轻患者。与未接受过化疗的乳房切除术患者相比，接受过化疗的乳房切除术患者的疲劳感显着增加（p = 0.0002）。与 ≥ 的患者相比，RT 开始时年龄小于 50 (p = 0.002)、50-59 (p = 0.007) 或 60-69 (p = 0.048) 岁的患者中度或重度疲劳的比例更高70岁。结论 与乳房照射相关的疲劳在放疗期间增加了长达 6 周，并在治疗后 1-3 个月恢复到接近基线评分。鉴于乳房切除术患者的疲劳显着，需要进一步研究以减少该队列的疲劳，特别是那些接受过先前化疗的患者和接受乳房放疗的年轻患者。与未接受过化疗的乳房切除术患者相比，接受过化疗的乳房切除术患者的疲劳感显着增加（p = 0.0002）。与 ≥ 的患者相比，RT 开始时年龄小于 50 (p = 0.002)、50-59 (p = 0.007) 或 60-69 (p = 0.048) 岁的患者中度或重度疲劳的比例更高70岁。结论 与乳房照射相关的疲劳在放疗期间增加了长达 6 周，并在治疗后 1-3 个月恢复到接近基线评分。鉴于乳房切除术患者的疲劳显着，需要进一步研究以减少该队列的疲劳，特别是那些接受过先前化疗的患者和接受乳房放疗的年轻患者。