Fatigue Associated with Radiation Treatment for Breast Cancer

Fatigue is one of the most prevalent and debilitating symptoms that breast cancer patients experience. Cancer-related fatigue (CRF) can persist for many years after treatment has ended, and it is not relieved by either rest or sleep. Fatigue negatively affects quality of life and physical function and may result in decreased adherence to medical treatment. Increasing evidence shows that fatigue is prognostic of survival. In this chapter, we discuss the prevalence, biological mechanisms, and predictors of fatigue in women with breast cancer who receive radiotherapy. The impact of radiation dose and modality on the development of fatigue, as well as interventions for fatigue, are also reviewed.