• Sara N Edmond, Rebecca A Shelby, Francis J Keefe, Hannah M Fisher, John E Schmidt, Mary S Soo, Celette S Skinner, Gretchen M Ahrendt, Jessica Manculich, Jules H Sumkin, Margarita L Zuley, and Dana H Bovbjerg.
• Departments of *Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences‡Radiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC†University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, Hillman Cancer Center∥Magee-Women's Hospital, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Cancer Center, Pittsburgh, PA§Department of Clinical Sciences and Harold C. Simmons Cancer Center, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX.
• Clin J Pain. 2017 Jan 1; 33 (1): 51-56.

ObjectivesThis study compared persistent breast pain among women who received breast-conserving surgery for breast cancer and women without a history of breast cancer.MethodsBreast 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.ResultsPersistent 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.DiscussionResults 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.

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