To investigate prevalence and severity of symptoms and symptom clustering in breast cancer survivors who attended MBSR-BC. Women were randomly assigned into MBSR-BC or usual care (UC). Eligible women were >= 21 years, had been diagnosed with breast cancer and completed treatment within 18 months of enrollment. Symptoms and interference with daily living were measured pre- and post-MBSR-BC using the MD Anderson Symptom Inventory. Symptoms were reported as highly prevalent but severity was low. Fatigue was the most frequently reported and severe symptom among groups. Symptoms clustered into 3 groups and improved in both groups. At baseline, both MBSR-BC and the control groups showed similar mean symptom severity and interference; however, after the 6-week post-intervention, the MBSR-BC group showed statistically-significant reduction for fatigue and disturbed sleep (p < 0.01) and improved symptom interference items, compared to the control group. For the between-group comparisons, 11 of 13 symptoms and 5 of 6 interference items had lower means in the MBSR-BC condition than the control condition. These results suggest that MBSR-BC modestly decreases fatigue and sleep disturbances, but has a greater effect on the degree to which symptoms interfere with many facets of life. Although these results are preliminary, MBSR intervention post-treatment may effectively reduce fatigue and related interference in QOL of breast cancer survivors.

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