Prevalência de depressão e fadiga em um grupo de mulheres com câncer de mama

The objective of this cross-sectional study was to identify and evaluate the occurrence of symptoms of depression and fatigue in women undergoing radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy for breast cancer for one year or less. An instrument was used to collect the sociodemographic, clinical and therapeutic data. Depression was assessed using Beck’s Depression Inventory (BDI), and the Fatigue Questionnaire was used to evaluate levels of fatigue. The participants were 31 women who were attending a rehabilitation center for mastectomy patients. Results show that 87.1% of the women report experiencing weakness of their legs as a symptom of fatigue-related malaise related to the treatment. Regarding depression symptoms, 41.9% reported experiencing mild to moderate symptoms. Results point to the need to develop approaches to manage symptoms of depression and fatigue, in addition to helping health professionals to identify their clients’ needs and develop suitable strategies for individualized care. Descriptors: Breast Neoplasms; Fatigue; Depression.