Differences in symptom clusters identified using symptom occurrence rates versus severity ratings in patients with breast cancer undergoing chemotherapy.

The clusters were created from one questionnaire time point, one week after chemotherapy, so they may not be stable across the full treatment cycle. Eight symptoms were left out because too few or too many patients reported them, so the clusters do not cover every symptom patients experienced. Only a small number of men with breast cancer were included, so findings may not apply to men. The study did not test whether using these clusters to guide treatment helps patients; it only described how symptoms grouped together. Most patients were female, White, and well educated, so the clusters may not reflect all breast cancer populations. The choice of factor solution was partly based on interpretability and clinical meaningfulness, so different analysts might group symptoms differently.

The authors declared no conflicts of interest.

Do not read the identified symptom clusters as proof that treating a cluster improves chemotherapy outcomes. This study grouped self-reported symptoms at one time point and did not test any treatment.