Post-Mastectomy Pain Syndrome Affects Many Women After Breast Cancer Surgery

Many women experience post-mastectomy pain syndrome after undergoing mastectomies to treat breast cancer or as a preventive measure. Breast cancer affects 1 in 8 American women over their lifetimes, according to the American Cancer Society. Mastectomies remove breast tissue to address the disease or reduce risk based on genetic testing.

“Post-mastectomy pain syndrome, or PMPS, ranges from uncomfortable to disabling and can persist for years. A review of peer-reviewed studies and interviews with pain specialists, surgeons, patients, and patient advocates reported that PMPS is inconsistently diagnosed and treated. This leads some women to seek relief while facing challenges in finding physicians who address their symptoms adequately.”

Challenges Estimates of PMPS prevalence vary widely due to its poor definition, reaching as high as more than 50% of mastectomy patients, according to studies cited in the review.

Even lower estimates of around 10% suggest PMPS may affect a substantial number of women annually. Some patients have reported that pre-surgery consultations did not mention PMPS, though they signed forms that may have disclosed the risk. These patients reported feeling unprepared for the chronic pain, with some indicating that their doctors dismissed their symptoms.

Context and Potential Improvements Breast cancer survival rates have increased since the 1980s due to advancements in screening, genetic testing, treatments, and mastectomy procedures.

PMPS emerges as a complication in this context. Patient advocates have noted cases of chronic pain persisting for years after mastectomies. Legislation has been proposed to improve insurance coverage for complications after breast cancer treatment, including preventive mastectomies and chronic pain management.

Additional research could address gaps, though pain research spans multiple medical specialties.