PURPOSE: The aim of our study was to establish the prevalence of breast pain persisting 5 years after the initial treatment of breast cancer (BC) and the relationship between those persistent symptoms and general well-being. METHODS: The study involved women from Victoria, Australia, who had survived at least 5 years from diagnosis, remained free from recurrence or new BC and completed the fifth annual follow-up questionnaire. Analysis involved both multivariable logistic and linear regression. RESULTS: Of 1,205 women, 45 % reported breast pain which persisted for at least 3 months following initial treatment, and of these, 80 % reported pain persisting for at least 5 years. The factor contributing most to the likelihood of persistent breast pain was current lymphedema; however, a full multivariable model explained <10 % of the likelihood of breast pain persisting for 5 years. The presence of breast pain at 5 years was associated with only a modest reduction in general well-being. CONCLUSIONS: Breast pain persisting for at least 5 years after treatment for BC is common. As the pain is largely unexplained by factors associated with the characteristics of the cancer or its treatment, the contribution of patient expectations to persistent breast pain may be considerable. IMPLICATIONS FOR CANCER SURVIVORS: Where persistent pain occurs, referral for the management of pain and, where appropriate, lymphedema is warranted.
PURPOSE: The aim of our study was to establish the prevalence of breast pain persisting 5 years after the initial treatment of breast cancer (BC) and the relationship between those persistent symptoms and general well-being. METHODS: The study involved women from Victoria, Australia, who had survived at least 5 years from diagnosis, remained free from recurrence or new BC and completed the fifth annual follow-up questionnaire. Analysis involved both multivariable logistic and linear regression. RESULTS: Of 1,205 women, 45 % reported breast pain which persisted for at least 3 months following initial treatment, and of these, 80 % reported pain persisting for at least 5 years. The factor contributing most to the likelihood of persistent breast pain was current lymphedema; however, a full multivariable model explained <10 % of the likelihood of breast pain persisting for 5 years. The presence of breast pain at 5 years was associated with only a modest reduction in general well-being. CONCLUSIONS:Breast pain persisting for at least 5 years after treatment for BC is common. As the pain is largely unexplained by factors associated with the characteristics of the cancer or its treatment, the contribution of patient expectations to persistent breast pain may be considerable. IMPLICATIONS FOR CANCER SURVIVORS: Where persistent pain occurs, referral for the management of pain and, where appropriate, lymphedema is warranted.
Authors: Guy H Montgomery; Julie B Schnur; Joel Erblich; Michael A Diefenbach; Dana H Bovbjerg Journal: J Pain Symptom Manage Date: 2010-06 Impact factor: 3.612
Authors: Jennifer Katz; Ellen L Poleshuck; Carl H Andrus; Laura A Hogan; Beth F Jung; Dale I Kulick; Robert H Dworkin Journal: Pain Date: 2005-11-17 Impact factor: 6.961
Authors: Winfried Rief; Wayne A Bardwell; Joel E Dimsdale; Loki Natarajan; Shirley W Flatt; John P Pierce Journal: Breast Cancer Res Treat Date: 2011-06-09 Impact factor: 4.872
Authors: Robin J Bell; Penelope J Robinson; Raychel Barallon; Pamela Fradkin; Max Schwarz; Susan R Davis Journal: Support Care Cancer Date: 2013-02-24 Impact factor: 3.603
Authors: Robin J Bell; Marijana Lijovic; Maria La China; Max Schwarz; Pamela Fradkin; Jo Bradbury; Susan R Davis Journal: Support Care Cancer Date: 2009-08-26 Impact factor: 3.603
Authors: J Bruce; A J Thornton; N W Scott; S Marfizo; R Powell; M Johnston; M Wells; S D Heys; A M Thompson Journal: Br J Cancer Date: 2012-07-31 Impact factor: 7.640
Authors: Li Wang; Gordon H Guyatt; Sean A Kennedy; Beatriz Romerosa; Henry Y Kwon; Alka Kaushal; Yaping Chang; Samantha Craigie; Carlos P B de Almeida; Rachel J Couban; Shawn R Parascandalo; Zain Izhar; Susan Reid; James S Khan; Michael McGillion; Jason W Busse Journal: CMAJ Date: 2016-07-11 Impact factor: 8.262
Authors: Laurence Leysen; David Beckwée; Jo Nijs; Roselien Pas; Thomas Bilterys; Sofie Vermeir; Nele Adriaenssens Journal: Support Care Cancer Date: 2017-08-10 Impact factor: 3.603
Authors: Laura Lorenzo-Gallego; Beatriz Arranz-Martín; Helena Romay-Barrero; Virginia Prieto-Gómez; Enrique Lluch; María Torres-Lacomba Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2022-03-29 Impact factor: 3.390
Authors: Kim Michéle Feder; Hans Bjarke Rahr; Marianne Djernes Lautrup; Heidi Klakk Egebæk; Robin Christensen; Kim Gordon Ingwersen Journal: Trials Date: 2022-08-20 Impact factor: 2.728
Authors: Anne Lukas; Maurice Theunissen; Dianne de Korte-de Boer; Sander van Kuijk; Lotte Van Noyen; Walter Magerl; Werner Mess; Wolfgang Buhre; Madelon Peters Journal: Trials Date: 2022-07-25 Impact factor: 2.728
Authors: Gianluca Villa; Raffaele Mandarano; Caterina Scirè-Calabrisotto; Valeria Rizzelli; Martina Del Duca; Diego Pomarè Montin; Laura Paparella; A Raffaele De Gaudio; Stefano Romagnoli Journal: Perioper Med (Lond) Date: 2021-02-24