Researchers from Denmark have reported that pain and sensory disturbances persist for two to three years after breast cancer surgery. The details of this study were published in the November 11, 2009 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.[1]
The most common complication of breast surgery is lymphedema related to axillary lymph node dissection. Very little has been written about persistent pain in the breast.
Researchers sought to determine the incidence of persistent pain and sensory disturbances after breast cancer surgery. They performed a questionnaire study in 2008 involving 3,754 women who had received surgery for primary breast cancer in 2005 and 2006.
- 47% reported pain, which was severe in 13%.
- Factors associated with chronic pain included young age and axillary lymph node dissection.
- Women with sentinel lymph node dissection had less pain than women with axillary lymph node dissection.
- Sensory disturbances were also associated with younger age and axillary lymph node dissection.
- Pain in other parts of the body was associated with increased pain in the surgical area.
- 20% of women had contacted a physician within the past three months concerning pain in the surgical area.
Comments: These data suggest that pain and sensory disturbances related to breast cancer surgery are much greater and persist for a longer period of time than generally appreciated.
Reference:
[1] Gartner R, Jensen M-B, Nielsen J, et al. Prevalence of and factors associated with persistent pain following breast cancer surgery. Journal of the American Medical Association. 2009;302:1985-1992.
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