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Psychoneurological symptom cluster in breast cancer: the role of inflammation and diet

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Abstract

Patients with breast cancer experience treatment-related symptoms which are unlike side effects associated with therapy such as surgery, chemotherapy or radiation. These symptoms are collectively referred to as symptoms cluster and include concurrent physical and/or psychosocial symptoms. Psychoneurological symptom cluster has been used to describe fatigue, mood changes, cognitive and sleep disturbances and pain seen in patients diagnosed with cancer. The etiology of psychoneurological symptom cluster is unclear; however, inflammation has been shown to play a role. High quality diets defined as diets rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains and polyunsaturated fatty acids and low in added sugar have been shown to decrease inflammation in patients. This article reviews the role of inflammation and high quality diet on the prevalence of psychoneurological symptoms clusters.

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  1. Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ, USA

    Mridula A. George

  2. The Ohio State University, Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbus, OH, USA

    Maryam B. Lustberg

  3. College of Education and Human Ecology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA

    Tonya S. Orchard

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  1. Mridula A. George
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  2. Maryam B. Lustberg
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  3. Tonya S. Orchard
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George, M.A., Lustberg, M.B. & Orchard, T.S. Psychoneurological symptom cluster in breast cancer: the role of inflammation and diet. Breast Cancer Res Treat 184, 1–9 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10549-020-05808-x

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