Symptom clusters among breast cancer patients in relation to chemotherapy cycles: a longitudinal study

PurposeThe aim of this study was to identify symptom clusters in breast cancer patients undergoing adjuvant chemotherapy.MethodsA prospective longitudinal study was conducted. And a sample of 620 breast cancer patients receiving adjuvant chemotherapy was recruited using convenience sampling from May 20, 2020, to March 31, 2021. Data were collected eight times: the first chemotherapy cycle (T1) to the eighth cycle of chemotherapy (T8). Exploratory factor analysis was used to explore the composition of symptom clusters.ResultsSymptoms with an incidence of less than 20% were deleted and the remaining symptoms were included in the factor analysis. Three common factors were extracted in T1, including gastrointestinal symptom cluster, emotional and psychological symptom cluster, and menopausal symptom cluster. Five common factors were extracted from T2 to T7, including gastrointestinal symptom cluster, emotional and psychological symptom cluster, neurological symptom cluster, menopausal symptom cluster, and self-image disorder symptom cluster. Four common factors were extracted at T8, including gastrointestinal symptom cluster, emotional and psychological symptom cluster, neurological symptom cluster, and menopausal symptom cluster.ConclusionBreast cancer patients undergoing adjuvant chemotherapy experience multiple symptoms and different symptom clusters in different chemotherapy cycles. It is a benefit for health care providers to better understand and care for breast cancer patients. It will also help such women to manage concurrent symptoms ahead to promote their quality of life.

Automated summary

The purpose of this study was to identify symptom clusters in breast cancer patients undergoing adjuvant chemotherapy. A sample of 620 breast cancer patients receiving adjuvant chemotherapy was recruited, and data were collected eight times during the chemotherapy cycles. The results showed that different symptom clusters emerged in different chemotherapy cycles, including gastrointestinal, emotional and psychological, neurological, menopausal, and self-image disorder symptom clusters. It is important for healthcare providers to understand and care for breast cancer patients and help them manage concurrent symptoms to improve their quality of life.