This is an automatically translated article.
Article written by Dr., BSCK I Bui Hanh Tam, Department of Anesthesiology - Vinmec Times City International Hospital
The 5-year survival rate is up to 80% when breast cancer is diagnosed early and intervened at the right time. Along with increasing survival rates, improving a woman's quality of life after breast surgery or mastectomy is equally important.
Breast cancer treatments (surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, hormones) can all affect a patient's quality of life. This can last for months or even years after treatment has ended. Patients may have the following symptoms: Persistent pain, chemical peripheral neuropathy, ipsilateral hand lymphedema, fatigue, sleep disturbance, cardiovascular toxicity, or bone loss. These side effects affect life activities, leading to non-adherence to treatment.
1. Common causes
After surgery, persistent pain is often caused by 4 causes
Pain "ghost breast" at the site of the removed breast: The patient still has a feeling of breast and pain. Intercostal-brachial neuralgia is caused by sensory changes in the area of the body innervated by this nerve branch. Scar pain due to neuroma: Pain in the scar area of the breast, chest, or arm, onset or increased pain to palpation. Pain caused by other nerve damage: Pain outside of the brachial intercostal nerve due to surgical procedures such as the thoracic long nerve, thoracic nerve, thoracic dorsal nerve and intercostal nerve...
Trắc nghiệm: Những lầm tưởng và sự thật về ung thư vú
Ung thư vú có tỷ lệ tử vong cao nhất ở nữ giới khiến họ rất lo sợ bản thân mắc phải căn bệnh này. Tuy nhiên, không ít chị em có những hiểu biết thái quá về ung thư vú. Thử sức cùng bài trắc nghiệm sau sẽ giúp bạn loại bỏ được những nghi ngờ không đúng về căn bệnh này.
Bài dịch từ: webmd.com
2. Persistent pain after treatments
2.1 Persistent pain after surgery Persistent pain in the form of neuroma at the postoperative scar accounts for about 23-50%. About half of patients with mastectomy with lymph node dissection and radiation therapy experience more pain than total mastectomy alone. Neuroma may be related to nerve regeneration according to the site of skin incision, surgical manipulation and electrocautery of nerves during surgery.
Sau phẫu thuật vú bệnh nhân sẽ vẫn có cảm giác đau
Breast tumor surgery can completely solve cancer if the patient comes early and treated aggressively and promptly. However, in some cases, when the tumor has developed at the stage with lymph node metastasis or invasion, continued treatment after surgery is required. At this time, the risk of persistent pain, chronic pain after surgery is a challenge for both patients and doctors. However, chronic pain in breast cancer treatment has not been paid enough attention and is sometimes ignored, making the quality of life of patients very poor.
2.2 Persistent pain after hormone therapy Patients with breast cancer after menopause or with pre-existing musculoskeletal system pain, which limits mobility and reduces vital activities. Pain is usually symmetrical, pain due to stiffness in the shoulder joints, arms, forearms, legs, hips and pelvis. Pain may be caused by bursitis, tendon edema, tendon thinning, trigger finger, or carpal tunnel syndrome.
Đau cẳng tay là hiện tượng thường gặp sau điều trị hormone ung thư vú
2.3 Persistent pain after chemotherapy The advanced stage of breast cancer with metastases is a stage that requires good cooperation between patients and doctors. Chemotherapy is the cause of peripheral neuropathic pain caused by toxic doses of the chemical. Typical is numbness, stinging, decreased sensation, weakness - causing reduced quality of life, loss of balance, falls leading to other injuries such as fractures, ligament damage...
Goods chemicals Paclitaxel is the leading cause of peripheral nerve damage. There were 67% of patients with pain due to peripheral nerve damage during Paclitaxel treatment. Approximately 27% of patients with peripheral neuropathic pain are a consequence of this chemotherapy treatment. Those who present within the course of treatment are three times more likely to develop chronic pain due to peripheral nerve damage in the long term.
2.3 Persistent pain after radiotherapy According to the latest studies, 6 typical symptoms in radiation therapy are feeling of loss of energy, anxiety, trouble sleeping, feeling sleepy, sweating and pain. Pain usually appears late from 6 months to 20 years later. Radiation therapy causes nerve damage that can be caused by fibrosis, ischemia, and inflammation.
Sau xạ trị ung thư vú bệnh nhân thường có cảm giác buồn ngủ
About 30-40% of patients after breast surgery have persistent pain. When there is mass resection, lymph node dissection or mastectomy, the rate can be up to 50% of patients with persistent pain, chronic pain after surgery.
Therefore, after breast cancer treatment, do not hesitate to consult a doctor if you or your loved one still has persistent pain after surgery. Persistent pain after treatment should not be taken for granted and tolerable. Cancer treatment can continue, and seeing a pain doctor to find the right pain relief solution for each person is essential to improving quality of life, increasing cancer treatment effectiveness. letter and prolong life.
At Vinmec International General Hospital, there is a Breast Cancer Screening Package, which helps customers screen and detect breast cancer early even when there are no symptoms. When registering for the Breast Cancer Screening Package, customers will receive:
Examination and consultation with an oncologist. Breast cancer screening by bilateral breast ultrasound and mammogram. Vinmec has become a prestigious address in breast cancer screening with:
A team of highly qualified and experienced doctors. Comprehensive professional cooperation with domestic and international hospitals: Singapore, Japan, USA, .. Comprehensive treatment and care, multi-specialty coordination towards individualizing each patient. Having a full range of specialized facilities for diagnosis and staging before treatment: Endoscopy, CT scan, PET-CT scan, MRI, histopathological diagnosis, gene-cell testing, .. There are full range of main cancer treatment methods: surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, stem cell transplant... To register for examination and treatment at Vinmec International General Hospital, you have You can contact Vinmec Health System nationwide for service.
Please dial HOTLINE for more information or register for an appointment HERE. Download MyVinmec app to make appointments faster and to manage your bookings easily.
Recommended video:
Cancer screening: Early detection method, reducing treatment costs and cancer mortality
