Skip to main content

Chronic Pain After Surgery for Breast Cancer

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Breast Surgical Techniques and Interdisciplinary Management
  • 2520 Accesses

Abstract

As more women survive breast cancer, an increasing number are burdened with the sequelae of the disease, including chronic pain. This can be a source of considerable disability to those already under a sizable amount of medical, financial, social, and psychological distress. Understanding the possible therapeutic options available for such patients can provide tremendous psychological and physical relief. This chapter provides an overview of common pain syndromes and possible treatment options.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 129.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Hardcover Book
USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  1. Smith WC, Bourne D, Squair J, Phillips DO, Chambers WA. A retrospective cohort study of post mastectomy pain syndrome. Pain. 1999;83:91–5.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Katz J, Poleshuck EL, Andrus CH, et al. Risk factors for acute pain and its persistence following breast cancer surgery. Pain. 2005;119:16–25.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Tasmuth T, Blomqvist C, Kalso E. Chronic post-treatment symptoms in patients with breast cancer operated in different surgical units. Eur J Surg Oncol. 1999;25:38–43.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Assa J. The intercostobrachial nerve in radical mastectomy. J Surg Oncol. 1974;6:123–6.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Wallace MS, Wallace AM, Lee J, Dobke MK. Pain after breast surgery: a survey of 282 women. Pain. 1996;66:195–205.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Granek I, Ashikari R, Foley K. The post-mastectomy pain syndrome: clinical and anatomical correlates. Proc Am Soc Clin Oncol. 1984;3:122.

    Google Scholar 

  7. Jung BF, Ahrendt GM, Oaklander AL, Dworkin RH. Neuropathic pain following breast ­cancer surgery: proposed classification and research update. Pain. 2003;104:1–13.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Tasmuth T, von Smitten K, Hietanen P, Kataja M, Kalso E. Pain and other symptoms after different treatment modalities of breast cancer. Ann Oncol. 1995;6:453–9.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Paredes JP, Puente JL, Potel J. Variations in sensitivity after sectioning the intercostobrachial nerve. Am J Surg. 1990;160:525–8.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Abdullah TI, Iddon J, Barr L, Baildam AD, Bundred NJ. Prospective randomized controlled trial of preservation of the intercostobrachial nerve during axillary node clearance for breast cancer. Br J Surg. 1998;85:1443–5.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Kroner K, Knudsen UB, Lundby L, Hvid H. Long-term phantom breast syndrome after ­mastectomy. Clin J Pain. 1992;8:346–50.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Nath RK, Lyons AB, Bietz G. Microneurolysis and decompression of long thoracic nerve injury are effective in reversing scapular winging: long-term results in 50 cases. BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2007;8:25.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Wiater JM, Flatow EL. Long thoracic nerve injury. Clin Orthop Relat Res. 1999;368:17–27.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Tacconi P, Manca D, Tamburini G, Cannas A, Giagheddu M. Notalgia paresthetica following neuralgic amyotrophy: a case report. Neurol Sci. 2004;25:27–9.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Moskovitz AH, Anderson BO, Yeung RS, Byrd DR, Lawton TJ, Moe RE. Axillary web ­syndrome after axillary dissection. Am J Surg. 2001;181:434–9.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Cheville AL, Tchou J. Barriers to rehabilitation following surgery for primary breast cancer. J Surg Oncol. 2007;95:409–18.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Gilron I, Bailey JM, Tu D, Holden RR, Weaver DF, Houlden RL. Morphine, gabapentin, or their combination for neuropathic pain. N Engl J Med. 2005;352:1324–34.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Tasmuth T, Hartel B, Kalso E. Venlafaxine in neuropathic pain following treatment of breast cancer. Eur J Pain. 2002;6:17–24.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Kalso E, Tasmuth T, Neuvonen PJ. Amitriptyline effectively relieves neuropathic pain following treatment of breast cancer. Pain. 1996;64:293–302.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Macdonald L, Bruce J, Scott NW, Smith WC, Chambers WA. Long-term follow-up of breast cancer survivors with post-mastectomy pain syndrome. Br J Cancer. 2005;92:225–30.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Senturk M, Ozcan PE, Talu GK, et al. The effects of three different analgesia techniques on long-term postthoracotomy pain. Anesth Analg. 2002;94:11–5.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Vila Jr H, Liu J, Kavasmaneck D. Paravertebral block: new benefits from an old procedure. Curr Opin Anaesthesiol. 2007;20:316–8.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Exadaktylos AK, Buggy DJ, Moriarty DC, Mascha E, Sessler DI. Can anesthetic technique for primary breast cancer surgery affect recurrence or metastasis? Anesthesiology. 2006;105:660–4.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Lavand’homme P, De Kock M, Waterloos H. Intraoperative epidural analgesia combined with ketamine provides effective preventive analgesia in patients undergoing major digestive ­surgery. Anesthesiology. 2005;103:813–20.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. De Kock M, Lavand’homme P, Waterloos H. The short-lasting analgesia and long-term ­antihyperalgesic effect of intrathecal clonidine in patients undergoing colonic surgery. Anesth Analg. 2005;101:566–72.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ian R. Carroll .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2010 Springer New York

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Barelka, P., Carroll, I.R. (2010). Chronic Pain After Surgery for Breast Cancer. In: Dirbas, F., Scott-Conner, C. (eds) Breast Surgical Techniques and Interdisciplinary Management. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-6076-4_85

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-6076-4_85

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4419-6075-7

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4419-6076-4

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics