Breast pain after breast conserving therapy

To assess the severity and temporal course of pain in the breast after breast conserving therapy (BCT) for carcinoma, consisting of tumourectomy, complete axillary clearance and radiotherapy to a total tumourdose of 70 Gy, a questionnaire was sent to 102 women. The mean interval between surgery and the first questionnaire was 36 ± 22.6 (SD) months, and a slightly modified questionnaire was repeated 18 months later. Response to the first and second questionnaires was 97% and 82% respectively. 62 women from the first questionnaire and 42 women from the second questionnaire (63% and 53% of responders respectively) reported breast pain. They rated the intensity 2.8 ± 2.4 and 1.7 ± 2.1 respectively on a visual linear analog scale of 0–10. The difference between pain scores as assessed by the two questionnaires was significant (p = 0.012). There was a significant correlation (coefficient −0.306, p = 0.041) between the time interval since surgery and the intensity of breast pain in the second questionnaire. Breast pain occurs in the majority of women after BCT. The intensity is low and decreases with time.