Pain Self-Management Behaviors in Breast Cancer Survivors Six Months Post-Primary Treatment: A Mixed-Methods,...

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Pain Management
• Survivorship Care

Background:

• Chronic treatment-related pain (CTP) affects one-third of breast cancer (BC) survivors.
• Existing research on pain self-management behaviors (PSMBs) primarily focuses on advanced cancer patients.
• BC survivors may have unique pain management needs and resource access compared to advanced cancer patients.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore PSMBs used by breast cancer survivors.
• To identify referral sources and pain relief goals for survivors.
• To examine the association between PSMB engagement and pain intensity/interference.

Main Methods:

• Mixed-methods study involving 60 breast cancer survivors six months post-treatment.
• Quantitative assessment of pain intensity, pain interference, and PSMB engagement.
• Qualitative thematic analysis of interviews with a subset of participants (n=10).

Main Results:

• Participants engaged in an average of 7 PSMBs, commonly walking and distraction.
• Most PSMBs were self-directed or recommended by friends; some involved seeking specialized services.
• PSMB engagement correlated with reduced pain interference (rs = 0.3, p ≤ 0.01) but not pain intensity.

Conclusions:

• Breast cancer survivors actively use a variety of PSMBs with diverse evidence bases.
• Self-directed strategies are common, but some survivors benefit from healthcare provider or peer support.
• Access to specialized pain management services is limited for some survivors.