Persistent Pain after Breast Cancer Treatment: A Questionnaire-Based Study on the Prevalence, Associated Treatment Variables, and Pain Type.
10.4048/jbc.2016.19.4.447
- Author:
Alexander Andersen JUHL
1
;
Peer CHRISTIANSEN
;
Tine Engberg DAMSGAARD
Author Information
1. Plastic Surgery Research Unit, Department of Plastic and Breast Surgery, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark. alexander@oncology.dk
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Breast neoplasms;
Chronic pain;
Mastectomy;
Neuralgia
- MeSH:
Body Mass Index;
Breast Neoplasms*;
Breast*;
Chronic Pain;
Female;
Follow-Up Studies;
Humans;
Lymph Node Excision;
Mammaplasty;
Mastectomy;
Multivariate Analysis;
Neuralgia;
Postal Service;
Prevalence*
- From:Journal of Breast Cancer
2016;19(4):447-454
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
PURPOSE: Persistent pain is a common side effect of breast cancer treatment. The present study aimed to assess the prevalence, associated treatment-related factors, and the type of pain (neuropathic or nociceptive) in patients who had undergone a unilateral mastectomy. METHODS: All women who underwent a unilateral mastectomy at a University Hospital between 2009 and 2013 were eligible for inclusion. Women with breast reconstruction or active cancer were excluded. Participants were mailed a questionnaire evaluating the prevalence, location, intensity, and frequency of surgical site pain. Additionally, the painDETECT®, a validated instrument to evaluate neuropathic pain, was mailed to all participants. RESULTS: A total of 305 women were included, and of them, 261 (85.6%) completed the study questionnaire. After a median follow-up period of 3.0 years, 100 women (38.3%) reported experiencing pain at the surgical site. Body mass index ≥30 kg/m², radiation therapy, and axillary lymph node dissection were significantly associated with persistent pain in univariate models. However, only body mass index ≥30 kg/m² was independently associated with persistent pain (odds ratio, 2.13; 95% confidence interval, 1.06–4.27; p=0.034) in a multivariate analysis. Of the patients reporting pain, 71.0% were unlikely to have a neuropathic pain component. A moderate, but highly significant, positive correlation was observed between the pain intensity and the painDETECT® score (rs=0.47, p<0.001). CONCLUSION: Persistent pain after breast cancer treatment continues to have a high prevalence. Our results indicate that the largest proportion of patients experiencing persistent pain after breast cancer treatment do not have a clear neuropathic pain component.
