1402 - Updates in Post Mastectomy Pain

Breast cancer is the most diagnosed cancer in the United States among women, where it accounts for nearly 1 in 3 cancers regardless of race or ethnicity. [1] The survival rates at 5- and 10- years respectively are 91% and 84%, where they are nearly 4 million survivors in the U.S. following treatment. [2] More than half of breast cancer survivors experience one or more long-term adverse impairment following treatment, where rates of impairment also increase with more advanced cancer. Unfortunately, despite the impairments found in the breast cancer population, treatment rates for physical impairments are severely lacking in his population and in some cases are reported to be as low as 1-2%. [3,4,5,6] Persistent pain following breast surgery (or Post-Mastectomy Pain Syndrome) is a common sequelae of breast cancer and subsequent treatment with ranges between 20-70%. [2] This is often not addressed in the continuum of Cancer Care, and can result in significant physical, psychological, and social distress to those that are affected by this syndrome. Post-mastectomy pain is very difficult syndrome to manage due to the complex anatomy in the chest, shoulder, and axilla areas which are further disrupted from surgery and radiation, cancer systemic treatment affects, psychological distress, access to care, and potential progression of cancer. This often requires a multidisciplinary approach, where Physiatrists can play in a unique role in helping to coordinate proper individualized care for patients.