Under-recognition of symptoms may be common in patients with breast cancer receiving radiotherapy


Among patients with breast cancer treated with radiotherapy, under-recognition of symptoms was common in reports of pain, pruritus, edema, and fatigue, with younger patients and Black patients having significantly increased odds of symptom under-recognition, according to data presented during General Session 3 at SABCS 20 on Thursday, Dec. 10.

“Recognizing side effects is necessary for physicians to provide supportive care to help patients manage their symptoms,” said Reshma Jagsi, MD, DPhil, the Newman Family Professor and Deputy Chair of the Department of Radiation Oncology and Director of the Center for Bioethics and Social Sciences in Medicine at the University of Michigan.

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