Stress and depression, not heart damage, may drive long-term breast cancer fatigue
For breast cancer survivors, new research shows that feelings of depression and perceptions of psychological stress make the biggest difference in whether they experience fatigue up to two years after chemotherapy started.
Recent research reveals that depression and psychological stress, rather than heart damage, play a significant role in breast cancer survivors experiencing fatigue up to two years following chemotherapy. Contrary to initial assumptions, the heart damage caused by chemotherapy was not found to be the primary cause of survivor fatigue.
The study, led by Nancy E. Avis and published in JAMA Network Open, involved researchers from Wake Forest University School of Medicine and Virginia Commonwealth University. The researchers suggest that addressing depression and stress through tailored treatments could improve the quality of life for breast cancer patients. The findings challenge existing assumptions and highlight the importance of considering psychological factors in the care of breast cancer survivors undergoing chemotherapy.
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