Persistent Pain After Breast Cancer Treatment (PPBCT) - Risk Factors and Pathophysiological Mechanisms

Persistent Pain After Breast Cancer Treatment (PPBCT) - Risk Factors and Pathophysiological Mechanisms

The study is a prospective cohort study following breast cancer patients from before surgery to one year after. The aims of the study are to determine risk factors that predispose to the development of persistent pain.

The aim of the study is 1) to determine pre-, intra and post surgical risk factors for persistent pain after breast cancer treatment 2) to examine the prevalence of persistent pain 6 and 12 months after surgery 3) provide a quantitative sensory testing (QST) profile of the patient population, measured pre surgery, 1 week and 12 months after surgery.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Diagnosed with breast cancer
• 18 years or older

Exclusion Criteria:

• unable to give written consent
• unable to understand Danish
• Previous cosmetic surgery in the breast
• Previous surgery in ipsilateral breast
• Bilateral cancer
• Concomitant corrective surgery on contralateral side
• Pregnant
• Other disease or injury in the nervous system
• Psychiatric disease
• Alcohol or drug abuse