Samreen, Isha
(2018)
Clinical predictors of persistent pain in breast cancer survivors post breast conserving surgery.
Master Essay, University of Pittsburgh.
Abstract
Persistent breast pain (PBP) after breast cancer surgical treatment has been reported in up to half of all breast cancer survivors, a relatively higher prevalence compared to other forms of surgery.
This particular topic holds public health significance because the development of PBP is a complex multifactorial process that can have profound negative effects. Multiple studies have found that the development of PBP can lead to decreases functionality, increased psychological distress (including worry and anxiety), and reduces the quality of life. Breast cancer is the most fatal gynecological malignancy. In the last decade, the incidence of breast cancer has increased which can be attributed to an aging population, earlier and improved methods of detection, and population growth. As the incidence rate and morbidity have increased so has the incidence of breast cancer survivors. With increase breast survivorship comes the burden of survivors dealing with complications and sequalae decreasing their quality of life. Other complications such as lymphedema, neuropathy/pain and fatigue have been well defined. The same cannot be said about persistent breast pain which has been poorly described in the literature.
The present study was conducted to explore the possible contribution of various demographic and clinical variables peri-operatively to the development of PBP. The results of the study revealed statistically significant relationships between the development of PBP following surgery and the following clinical variables: undergoing a sentinel lymph node biopsy, post-operative lymphedema and surgical complications. In addition, the timing of the self-reported assessment of pain relative to surgery (months since surgery) was also found to be predictive of PBP post-surgery. Interestingly, participants reporting PBP that began in the months preceding breast cancer surgery were found to be significantly more likely to have received neoadjuvant chemotherapy during that time.
These findings are consistent with a contribution of potentially modifiable clinical factors to patients’ risk of developing PBP following breast-conserving surgery for breast cancer and suggest the need for further research specifically focused on these issues.
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Details
| Item Type: |
Other Thesis, Dissertation, or Long Paper
(Master Essay)
|
| Status: |
Unpublished |
| Creators/Authors: |
|
| Contributors: |
| Contribution | Contributors Name | Email | Pitt Username | ORCID  |
|---|
| Committee Chair | Finegold, David | dnf@pitt.edu | UNSPECIFIED | UNSPECIFIED | | Committee Member | Bovbjerg, Dana | bovbjergdh@upmc.edu | UNSPECIFIED | UNSPECIFIED |
|
| Date: |
19 April 2018 |
| Date Type: |
Completion |
| Number of Pages: |
42 |
| Institution: |
University of Pittsburgh |
| Schools and Programs: |
School of Public Health > Multidisciplinary MPH |
| Degree: |
MPH - Master of Public Health |
| Thesis Type: |
Master Essay |
| Refereed: |
Yes |
| Date Deposited: |
14 Oct 2019 16:22 |
| Last Modified: |
14 Oct 2019 16:22 |
| URI: |
http://d-scholarship.pitt.edu/id/eprint/36609 |
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