About the project
According to the literature, 25-60% of women treated for breast cancer, regardless of stadium, experience pain. Many risk factors have been suggested, with many possible-confounding factors.
A nationwide postal survey of 1332 women who received surgery and adjuvant therapy for breast cancer in Norway two to six years before the onset of this study.
Objectives
To investigate the prevalence of chronic pain following breast cancer treatment nationwide, its intensity and body location. To investigate the psychosocial, medical and surgical factors associated with chronic pain by comparing breast cancer survivors with chronic pain with survivors without chronic pain.
In addition 20 women will be interview regarding their experience of pain and 15 women will receive a clinical examination regarding their pain.
Background
For measuring pain three different instruments were used:
- Sexualfunction
- Fatigue
- Emotional distress
Cooperation
- Oslo University Hospital
- The Cancer Registry of Norway
Publications
Women's experience of acute and chronic pain following breast cancer surgery. Hovind IL, Bredal IS, Dihle A.J Clin Nurs. 2013 Apr;22(7-8):1044-52. doi: 10.1111/jocn.12167.PMID:23480500[PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
Chronic pain in breast cancer survivors: Comparison of psychosocial, surgical and medical characteristics between survivors with and without pain. The Journal of Pain and Symptom Management (in press).