Self-Care In the Management of Chemotherapy-Related Fatigue in Women with Breast Cancer: Literature Integrative Review
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.32635/2176-9745.RBC.2025v71n4.5322Keywords:
Breast Neoplasms/drug therapy, Antineoplastics Agents/adverse effects, Fatigue, Self-careAbstract
Introduction: Chemotherapy is one of the most common approaches in the treatment of breast cancer. Its use can result in multiple adverse reactions, including fatigue, which impacts women’s well-being and quality of life. This condition requires recognizing the needs and developing self-care strategies with women throughout the treatment experience. Objective: To identify self-care strategies for managing chemotherapy-related fatigue in women with breast cancer. Method: An integrative literature review was conducted from June to December 2024. The search was conducted on the Web of Science, Scopus, MEDLINE, LILACS, and BDENF databases. Data analysis was based on a reduction process performed by reading the selected studies and classifying the publications’ level of evidence. Results: The identified studies focus on high-level evidence and demonstrate clinically based self-care strategies for organizing a sleep routine (between six and eight hours) and rest (times that do not interfere with nighttime sleep), physical activity (muscle and joint strengthening), good nutrition (to maintain body weight) and hydration, personal relationships and leisure (interaction with members of their social network), attention to mental health (psychological monitoring) and pre-existing conditions. Conclusion: Independent self-care performed by women to overcome chemotherapy-related fatigue requires support from health professionals and the incorporation of meanings for benefits to treatment, well-being, and quality of life.
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