Impact of Diabetes on the Symptoms of Breast Cancer Survivors

Abstract

Objectives: To examine the impact of diabetes on the symptoms of women with breast cancer.

Sample & Setting: 121 women with breast cancer who self-identified as having a diabetes diagnosis and 1,006 women with breast cancer without diabetes from 97 sites across the United States.

Methods & Variables: Symptom scores for depression, anxiety, sexual function, peripheral neuropathy, physical function, attention function, sleep disturbance, and fatigue were compared between women with breast cancer and diabetes and women with breast cancer without diabetes, controlling for age, education, income, marital status, and body mass index (BMI).

Results: Women with breast cancer and diabetes who were three to eight years postdiagnosis reported poorer physical and attention function, more sleep disturbance, and greater fatigue than women with breast cancer without diabetes. Age, education, income, and BMI were independent predictors of symptoms experienced by women with breast cancer.

Implications for Nursing: Oncology nurses can assess and monitor women with breast cancer and diabetes for increased post-treatment sequelae. If problematic symptoms are identified, implementing treatment plans can decrease symptom burden and increase quality of life for women with breast cancer and diabetes.