Nijeboer, D.A. (2026) The course of multidimensional fatigue after breast cancer: convergence with controls over long-term follow-up. thesis, Medicine.
Full text available on request.Abstract
Background Fatigue is a prevalent and disabling long-term symptom among breast cancer (BC) survivors and affects daily functioning and quality of life. Although fatigue often improves after treatment, a considerable proportion of survivors report persistent symptoms. Evidence on the long-term course of multidimensional fatigue remains limited. Methods In this longitudinal cohort study, fatigue was assessed using the Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory (MFI-20) in BC survivors and age-matched controls at two time points approximately 10 years apart, with an average follow-up of 20 years after diagnosis. General linear models and regression analyses were used to examine group differences over time, the influence of covariates, and treatment-related differences. Results A total of 167 BC survivors and 168 controls were included. At time point 1, mean total MFI-20 scores were higher in BC survivors than in controls (47.3 ± 18.1 vs 40.9 ± 15.0). At time point 2, mean scores were comparable (62.1 ± 5.3 vs 62.3 ± 4.1; p = 0.8). Fatigue increased significantly in both groups (p < 0.05). Mean fatigue change (delta scores) were 14.9 ± 19.0 in BC survivors and 21.4 ± 15.8 in controls, with a significant group-by-time interaction (p < 0.05). Baseline fatigue was associated with fatigue change, whereas BC status was not. No significant treatment-group differences were observed. Discussion Fatigue increased in both groups, with a larger increase in controls, resulting in comparable fatigue levels at long-term follow-up. These findings suggest that long-term fatigue increasingly reflects broader age- and health-related influences rather than cancer-specific effects.
| Item Type: | Thesis (UNSPECIFIED) |
|---|---|
| Supervisor name: | Brandenbarg, D. and Wal, L.T. van der |
| Faculty: | Medical Sciences |
| Date Deposited: | 20 Oct 2026 12:44 |
| Last Modified: | 20 Oct 2026 12:44 |
| URI: | https://umcg.studenttheses.ub.rug.nl/id/eprint/3981 |
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