Skip to main content

Pain After Breast Cancer Therapy/Treatment, Causes and Treatment - Post Breast Therapy Pain Syndrome -



Post Breast Cancer Therapy Pain Syndrome (PBTPS):-
                                                                     It is defined as typical pain and associated symptoms (oedema, numbness, dysesthesia etc) located in the chest wall, arms, axilla, shoulder and persists beyond the period of three months. It affects 10 to 30 % of women who have undergone breast surgery. (Breast Cancer)


Causes:-
               Following are the causes of PBTPS
1. Injury to the nerves during surgery
2. Radiation and Chemotherapy further aggravate the injury

It is believed that PBTPS results from injury to nerves during surgery and  Radiation and chemotherapy further aggravate the injury. Because of multi-variant causes, PBTPS encompasses many symptoms which can range from mild to severe. Chest and upper arm pain, numbness, oedema, continuous aching and pain associated with hypersensitivity to pain. The symptoms continue beyond 3 months with same or with increased severity.

The common cause of the onset of symptoms is an injury to nerves, especially to the intercostobrachial nerve, nerves of brachial plexus, long thoracic nerve, thoracodorsal may also be involved.

Younger Women are More At Risk:-

Studies showed that 65 % of women of age between 26 - 49 years develop PBTPS while 26 % of women of age above 70 age develop PBTPS.  An improper surgical technique is the most common cause and the nature of breast cancer in pre-menopausal women is different from that of post menopausal women.


Treatment:-

1. NSAIDs ( ibuprofen, naproxen  and other anti-inflammatory drugs.)
2. Low Dose anti-depression ( SSRIs )
3. Topical counter irritants ( capsacian, and mentholated creams )
4. Local anaesthetics
5. Corticosteroids
6. Other options include;
 a) Thoracic sympathectomy.
 b) Intermittent injection of corticosteroids or anaesthetics in the epidural space. c) Implantable spinal cord stimulators
 d) Regional neurolytic agents
 e) Acupuncture is also helpful.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Human Parasites, Types of Parasites, and Classification

Parasite: A parasite is a living organism which gets nutrition and protection from another organism where it lives. Parasites enter into the human body through mouth, skin and genitalia. In this article, we will generally discuss the types and classification of parasites. It is important from an academic point of view. Those parasites are harmful, which derives their nutrition and other benefits from the host and host get nothing in return but suffers from some injury. Types of Parasites Ecto-parasite: An ectoparasite lives outside on the surface of the body of the host. Endo-parasite: An endo-parasite lives inside the body of the host, it lives in the blood, tissues, body cavities, digestive tract or other organs. Temporary parasite: A temporary parasite visits its host for a short period of time. Permanent parasite: Permanent parasite lives its whole life in the host. Facultative parasite: A facultative parasite can live both independently and dependently. It lives in the

How to taper off, wean off beta blocker, atenolol, Propranolol, Metoprolol

Beta blockers include, atenolol (Tenormin), propranolol (Inderal ) and metoprolol (Lopressor) and are used to treat high blood pressure, certain cardiac problems, migraine and few other conditions. People usually take atenolol, propranolol or metoprolol for many years as a treatment of high blood pressure or after having an episode of heart attack . Sometimes, it becomes necessary to withdraw these beta blockers due to their potential side effects that trouble the patients or sometimes doctor wants to change the drug and shift the patient to some other anti-hypertensive medicine. No matter whatever the cause is, whenever, a patient who has been using a beta blocker for a long period of time, and he needs to be stopped from further usage of that beta blocker, must not stop taking it. One should taper off the dose of a beta blocker. Now a question arises how to wean off or taper off a beta blocker? The method of tapering off beta blocker varies from individual to individual. Allow you