Human study · Research · 1 Oct 2026
In 381 women followed for two years after breast cancer treatment, depression and stress tracked lingering fatigue more than heart-function changes
Source: UT Southwestern / JAMA Network Open
What the research found
Study (prospective cohort). A UT Southwestern roundup on 1 October 2026 describes a JAMA Network Open paper in which researchers followed 381 women for two years after breast cancer treatment. More than one-third of the women treated with chemotherapy and/or aromatase inhibitors had a clinically meaningful worsening of fatigue versus their pretreatment baseline. Some therapies were tied to lower measures of cardiac function, but those changes were not independently linked to fatigue at two years. Depressive symptoms were the strongest factor associated with persistent fatigue; perceived stress also contributed. The roundup does not give the women’s ages. Vlad Zaha of UT Southwestern contributed. This summary uses the university account, not the full journal text. Educational notes. This is not a mental-health protocol.
Evidence level: Human study. A study in people, but an association isn't proof of cause.
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