Breast cancer survivors suffer from persistent postmastectomy pain syndrome and posttraumatic stress disorder (ORTHUS study): a study of the palliative care working committee of the Turkish Oncology Group (TOG).
PURPOSE
Persistent postmastectomy pain syndrome (PMPS) is one of the most important disturbing symptoms. Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is an anxiety disorder which is characterized by reactions to reminders of the trauma that has been experienced. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the predictors of PMPS and PTSD in Turkish breast cancer survivors and the correlation between PMPS and PTSD.


METHOD
The study is designed as a multicenter survey study. Breast cancer patients in remission were evaluated. Patients were evaluated with structured questionnaires to assess the PMPS and clinical parameters associated with it. The Turkish version of the posttraumatic stress disorder checklist-civilian version (PCL-C) was used.


RESULTS
Between February 2015 and October 2015, 614 breast cancer survivors in outpatient clinics were evaluated. The incidence of PMPS documented is 45.1 %. In the multivariate analysis low income, presence of PTSD and <46 months after surgery were associated with increased risk of PMPS. PTSD was documented in 75 %, and the mean PCL-C score was 32.4 ± 11.1. PMPS and being married at the time of the evaluation were linked with PTSD.


CONCLUSIONS
It is the first data about the association between PMPS and PTSD. The clinicians should be aware of PMPS and PTSD in breast cancer survivors.
['Alkan|Ali|A|', 'Guc|Zeynep Gulsum|ZG|', 'Senler|Filiz Cay|FC|', 'Yavuzsen|Tugba|T|', 'Onur|Handan|H|', 'Dogan|Mutlu|M|', 'Karci|Ebru|E|', 'Yasar|Arzu|A|', 'Koksoy|Elif Berna|EB|', 'Tanriverdi|Ozgur|O|', 'Turhal|Serdar|S|', 'Urun|Yuksel|Y|', 'Ozkan|Asiye|A|', 'Mizrak|Dilsa|D|', 'Akbulut|Hakan|H|']
D001943:Breast Neoplasms D005260:Female D006801:Humans D015994:Incidence D008408:Mastectomy D008875:Middle Aged D010149:Pain, Postoperative D010166:Palliative Care D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic D013315:Stress, Psychological D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires D017741:Survivors D013577:Syndrome
Breast cancer survivor Persistent postmastectomy pain syndrome Posttraumatic stress disorder