gms | German Medical Science

27th German Cancer Congress Berlin 2006

German Cancer Society (Frankfurt/M.)

22. - 26.03.2006, Berlin

Causes of locoregional pain after the treatment for a primary breast cancer

Meeting Abstract

  • corresponding author presenting/speaker Mayada Bani - Frauenklinik des Universitätsklinikums Erlangen, Deutschland
  • Hiba Bani - Frauenklinik des Universitätsklinikums Erlangen
  • Irina Eder - Frauenklinik des Universitätsklinikums Erlangen
  • Julia Engel - Frauenklinik des Universitätsklinikums Erlangen
  • Faouz Allali - Frauenklinik des Universitätsklinikums Erlangen
  • Christiane Breuel - Frauenklinik des Universitätsklinikums Erlangen
  • Matthias W. Beckmann - Frauenklinik des Universitätsklinikums Erlangen
  • Peter A. Fasching - Frauenklinik des Universitätsklinikums Erlangen

27. Deutscher Krebskongress. Berlin, 22.-26.03.2006. Düsseldorf, Köln: German Medical Science; 2006. DocPO010

The electronic version of this article is the complete one and can be found online at: http://www.egms.de/en/meetings/dkk2006/06dkk120.shtml

Published: March 20, 2006

© 2006 Bani et al.
This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/deed.en). You are free: to Share – to copy, distribute and transmit the work, provided the original author and source are credited.


Outline

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Introduction: Therapeutic options for primary breast cancer include surgery, chemotherapy, antihormonal treatment, antibody therapy and radiotherapy. Each of these options has its own specific side effects. Furthermore the patient’s attitude toward the disease may contribute to the perception of these side effects. Aim of this study was to identify risk factors for the development and perception of pain.

Patients and methods: A questionnaire was handed out to 683 patients who have been diagnosed with breast cancer more than 3 months ago. The questionnaire consisted of 49 structured questions concerning perception of pain, surveillance behaviour, socioeconomic questions. Therapy data was obtained from original patients’ files. The response rate was 92% (n=626). 528 questionnaires were evaluable for the analysis. Logistic regression was used to identify risk factors for pain and fear of the surveillance examinations.

Results: Mean time since diagnosis was 4,27 years. 67,4% were treated by breast conserving therapy, 28,8% had an unilateral mastectomy and 3,8% a bilateral mastectomy. 50,9% of patients stated to have permanent pain or past pain events lasting longer than 3 months. In 57,6% the first time of pain occurrence was within 3 months after surgery. Further 25% of patients developed pain at a later point of time. Among radiotherapy, chemotherapy, chemotherapy, surgical procedure, age, educational status only radiation was associated with a higher risk for developing pain (Odds ratio 2,1; p=004). Age (women aged 60-70 ys.) has the highest impact on fear of the surveillance examination.

Conclusion: Pain is an important issue for women after a diagnosis of breast cancer. Radiotherapyis an important influence factor for the development of pain.Adequate care has to be offered in the follow-up.Interstitial brachytherapy as part of an ongoing prospectively randomized trial in Germany may be a chance to reduce pain events in women after a diagnosis of breast cancer.