Assessing the Relationship of Different Levels of Pain to the Health Status of Long-Term Breast Cancer Survivors: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Purpose: This study investigated the relationship between different pain levels in the affected arm and health status in long-term breast cancer survivors (LTBCSs) and identified predictors of pain at this stage of long-term survivorship. Methods: A cross-sectional study of 80 participants categorized LTBCSs by pain levels in the affected arm into three groups: no pain (0–0.99), mild pain (1–3.99), and moderate to severe pain (4–10). Variables assessed at least 5 years since diagnosis include pain in the non-affected arm, pain interference, cancer-related fatigue (CRF), physical activity (PA) level, fitness condition, mood state, and health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Results: A total of 36.25% of LTBCSs have no pain, 30% have mild pain, and 33.75% have moderate to severe pain. Furthermore, pain presence was associated with increased pain in the non-affected arm, pain interference, CRF, mood disturbances, and physical inactivity, as well as a decreased HRQoL (all p < 0.05). Regression analysis found “upset by hair loss”, CRF “affective domain”, “dyspnea”, and “alcohol consumption” as significant predictors of higher levels of pain in the affected arm (r2 adjusted = 0.646). Conclusions: A total of 63.75% of LTBCSs continue to experience mild to moderate to severe pain in the affected arm, negatively impacting their physical, mental, and emotional health status, with increased pain severity ≥5 years beyond cancer diagnosis. “Upset by hair loss”, CRF “affective domain”, “dyspnea”, and alcohol consumption collectively explain 64.6% of the affected-arm pain level in LTBCSs.