Symptom cluster and severity among women with breast cancer undergoing chemotherapy in Saudi Arabia

The aim of this descriptive cross-sectional longitudinal study was to identify symptom clusters present in women with breast cancer undergoing chemotherapy treatment in Saudi Arabia using different symptom dimensions (i.e., frequency, severity, distress). A sample of 100 women with breast cancer undergoing chemotherapy was conducted. Symptoms were assessed using the symptom experience scale. Two symptom clusters were identified and stayed approximately constant across different symptom dimensions. The first cluster consisted of nausea, loss of appetite, and sleep disturbance. The second cluster consisted of pain, fatigue, bowel pattern, concentration, appearance, and sleep disturbance. However, the symptom clusters seemed to be dynamic over time. Future research should further investigate symptom clusters trajectories over time.