Washington: Pain and sensory disturbances
persist for nearly three years after undergoing breast cancer
surgery, a new study says.
In 2008, researchers from Denmark carried out a
questionnaire study among 3,754 women who had received surgery
for primary breast cancer between 2005 and 2006.
The study revealed that 47 percent women experienced
pain even after almost three years after the surgery. Of these
13 percent reported severe pain.
Factors associated with chronic pain included young age
and axillary lymph node dissection (a type of breast cancer
surgery), according to the study published in the latest issue
of Journal of American Medical Association (JAMA).
Women with sentinel lymph node dissection had less pain
than those with axillary lymph node dissection.
Sensory disturbances were also associated with younger
age and axillary lymph node dissection, the study said.
The team also observed that pain reported in other parts
of the body by the participants was associated with increased
pain in surgical area.
The researchers concluded that pain and sensory
disturbances related to breast cancer surgery are much greater
in younger women and persist for a longer period of time than
generally appreciated.
Bureau Report