New Research Study: Help Us Understand Fatigue After Breast Cancer Treatment

We are excited to announce that recruitment has opened for a new research study funded by the Sussex Cancer Research Fund and sponsored by the University of Brighton. The study will explore why some women feel more fatigued, sometimes months after their breast cancer treatment is finished.

Who can take part?

·       Cancer-related fatigue group: We are looking for women aged 18–60 who are experiencing fatigue and are in remission from breast cancer (with treatment completed within the last 24 months).

·       Control group: We are also looking for women who are aged 18–60, healthy, and are not experiencing fatigue for a comparison group.

Why this matters — and how you can make a difference by taking part

Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer in the UK, making up about 15% of all new cancer cases - around 56,000 people are diagnosed each year in the UK. Many people treated for breast cancer experience ongoing fatigue, and this type of long-lasting tiredness is more common and often more severe than in other cancers. Cancer‑related fatigue (CRF) affects 75–90% of people with cancer, sometimes continuing for years after treatment has finished.

This fatigue can have many causes, including the cancer itself; treatments like chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and surgery; and psychological factors such as anxiety or depression.

CRF is highly disabling and can greatly reduce quality of life, making everyday activities and returning to work difficult. Unlike normal tiredness, which usually improves with rest, CRF can continue for months or even years after treatment ends.

What is the study about?

Despite how widespread CRF  is, we still don’t fully understand what causes it or how to treat it effectively. In this study, we will explore the hypothesis that cancer and its treatments could change how the brain interprets signals from the body – such as heartbeat and muscle exertion – potentially making everyday activities feel more tiring than they should. By understanding this brain–body connection, researchers hope to reveal why fatigue affects some women more severely than others, and why some may feel particularly fatigued during exercise.

This insight is especially valuable because regular exercise is actually recommended to help manage cancer-related fatigue. Ultimately, the study hopes to make recovery smoother and more effective.

Considering taking part? What would this involve?

• All testing takes place in the Meads Building on Falmer campus at the University of Brighton (near the Amex stadium)

• Each participant completes a single visit of approximately 3 hours, with the option to divide it into two shorter sessions if preferred

• On the day of your visit,

  • we will ask for your permission to collect some information from your medical records.

  • Then you will complete some questionnaires, have a go at some non-invasive physical tasks, including a hand grip exercise and three tests that explore your ability to recognise different sensations in your body (perception of your heart beating and tensions in your muscles when lifting a basket).

  • Lastly, we will be asked you to provide a small saliva sample.

 During the visit you will be welcome to take breaks or chose to stop completely if you wish to do so.

What are the benefits of taking part?

·      Share what fatigue feels like for you and explore how it may affect how hard exercise feels. You might find it helps you approach (light) exercise a little more mindfully.

·      Learn about new ideas that may help explain fatigue. If you are living with long-term fatigue, we can also signpost gentle, evidence-based approaches (such as mindfulness-based strategies) that some people find helpful.

·      A chance to understand yourself a bit better, think about ways to support your quality of life, and, where appropriate, be guided towards support and resources in a safe setting. If you would like, we can email you a short summary of your personal results within about a month of your visit.

·      Your visit will take place in the Meads Laboratory on the Falmer campus at the University of Brighton (in the Sport and Exercise Science department). If you would like, we can also show you around the facilities so you can see some of the equipment and learn a bit more about the research we do.

·      Help make a difference by supporting research into fatigue, cancer, and women’s health.

Please note: The aim of this research study is to collect data that will help us generate new scientific knowledge. The team is not testing a treatment, and there is no expected direct benefit to participants. However, it is anticipated that your involvement will contribute to a better understanding of cancer-related fatigue and you may help improve care for others in the future.

Thank you for reading this information.

If you are interested in finding out more, please get in touch with Rowan via CRFStudy@brighton.ac.uk or 01273 6413731.