Skip to main content

Persistent Breast Pain Among Women With Histories of Breast-conserving Surgery for Breast Cancer Compared With Women Without Histories of Breast Surgery or Cancer.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Edmond, SN; Shelby, RA; Keefe, FJ; Fisher, HM; Schmidt, JE; Soo, MS; Skinner, CS; Ahrendt, GM; Manculich, J; Sumkin, JH; Zuley, ML; Bovbjerg, DH
Published in: Clin J Pain
January 2017

OBJECTIVES: This study compared persistent breast pain among women who received breast-conserving surgery for breast cancer and women without a history of breast cancer. METHODS: Breast cancer survivors (n=200) were recruited at their first postsurgical surveillance mammogram (6 to 15 mo postsurgery). Women without a breast cancer history (n=150) were recruited at the time of a routine screening mammogram. All women completed measures of breast pain, pain interference with daily activities and intimacy, worry about breast pain, anxiety symptoms, and depression symptoms. Demographic and medical information were also collected. RESULTS: Persistent breast pain (duration ≥6 mo) was reported by 46.5% of breast cancer survivors and 12.7% of women without a breast cancer history (P<0.05). Breast cancer survivors also had significantly higher rates of clinically significant persistent breast pain (pain intensity score ≥3/10), as well as higher average breast pain intensity and unpleasantness scores. Breast cancer survivors with persistent breast pain had significantly higher levels of depressive symptoms, as well as pain worry and interference, compared with survivors without persistent breast pain or women without a breast cancer history. Anxiety symptoms were significantly higher in breast cancer survivors with persistent breast pain compared with women without a breast cancer history. DISCUSSION: Results indicate that persistent breast pain negatively impacts women with a history of breast-conserving cancer surgery compared with women without that history. Strategies to ameliorate persistent breast pain and to improve adjustment among women with persistent breast pain should be explored for incorporation into standard care for breast cancer survivors.

Duke Scholars

Altmetric Attention Stats
Dimensions Citation Stats

Published In

Clin J Pain

DOI

EISSN

1536-5409

Publication Date

January 2017

Volume

33

Issue

1

Start / End Page

51 / 56

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Pain Measurement
  • Middle Aged
  • Mastodynia
  • Mastectomy, Segmental
  • Humans
  • Female
  • Depression
  • Chronic Pain
  • Cancer Survivors
  • Breast Neoplasms
 

Citation

APA
Chicago
ICMJE
MLA
NLM
Edmond, S. N., Shelby, R. A., Keefe, F. J., Fisher, H. M., Schmidt, J. E., Soo, M. S., … Bovbjerg, D. H. (2017). Persistent Breast Pain Among Women With Histories of Breast-conserving Surgery for Breast Cancer Compared With Women Without Histories of Breast Surgery or Cancer. Clin J Pain, 33(1), 51–56. https://doi.org/10.1097/AJP.0000000000000377
Edmond, Sara N., Rebecca A. Shelby, Francis J. Keefe, Hannah M. Fisher, John E. Schmidt, Mary S. Soo, Celette S. Skinner, et al. “Persistent Breast Pain Among Women With Histories of Breast-conserving Surgery for Breast Cancer Compared With Women Without Histories of Breast Surgery or Cancer.Clin J Pain 33, no. 1 (January 2017): 51–56. https://doi.org/10.1097/AJP.0000000000000377.
Edmond, Sara N., et al. “Persistent Breast Pain Among Women With Histories of Breast-conserving Surgery for Breast Cancer Compared With Women Without Histories of Breast Surgery or Cancer.Clin J Pain, vol. 33, no. 1, Jan. 2017, pp. 51–56. Pubmed, doi:10.1097/AJP.0000000000000377.
Edmond SN, Shelby RA, Keefe FJ, Fisher HM, Schmidt JE, Soo MS, Skinner CS, Ahrendt GM, Manculich J, Sumkin JH, Zuley ML, Bovbjerg DH. Persistent Breast Pain Among Women With Histories of Breast-conserving Surgery for Breast Cancer Compared With Women Without Histories of Breast Surgery or Cancer. Clin J Pain. 2017 Jan;33(1):51–56.

Published In

Clin J Pain

DOI

EISSN

1536-5409

Publication Date

January 2017

Volume

33

Issue

1

Start / End Page

51 / 56

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Pain Measurement
  • Middle Aged
  • Mastodynia
  • Mastectomy, Segmental
  • Humans
  • Female
  • Depression
  • Chronic Pain
  • Cancer Survivors
  • Breast Neoplasms