Table 1: Common causes of chronic pain in patients with breast cancer
Pain due to direct tumour involvement Bone metastases Neural metastases Brachial plexopathy Spinal cord compression Meningeal carcinomatosis Peripheral neuropathy due to tumour infiltration Visceral metastases Pleura Liver Bowel Peritoneum Pain due to antineoplastic treatment Procedure-related pain in breast and shoulder Postmastectomy syndrome Lymphedema-related discomfort and pain Postirradiation painPeripheral neuropathy Pain due to drug extravasation Phlebitis Mucositis Chemical cystitis (with cyclophosphamide) Osteoporosis or avascular necrosis Pre-existing conditions Dermatomal herpes zoster Return to Guideline 10