The fatigue, anxiety and depression levels of patients with breast cancer during radiotherapy

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate fatigue, anxiety and depression scores before or after radiotherapy (RT) in breast cancer patients. A total of 51 patients with breast cancer were evaluated with Fatigue Scale, and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale before and after RT. Lee Fatigue Scale-fatigue subscale score significantly increased after RT (P=0.001); while energy subscale score significantly decreased after RT (P=0.001). Hospital Anxiety Scale score and Hospital Depression Scale score did not differ significantly before and after RT (P=0.630, and P=0.058, respectively). Relationship between patients' anxiety-depression levels and fatigue-energy levels before and after radiotherapy did not reveal any significant difference. Although an increase of fatigue, and a decrease of energy was observed after RT, no difference in anxiety and depression scores were observed in patients with breast cancer.