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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)

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Abstract

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.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medical Oncology, Ankara University School of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey

    Ali Alkan, Filiz Cay Senler, Handan Onur, Ebru Karci, Arzu Yasar, Elif Berna Koksoy, Yuksel Urun, Asiye Ozkan, Dilsa Mizrak & Hakan Akbulut

  2. Department of Medical Oncology, Dokuz Eylül University School of Medicine, İzmir, Turkey

    Zeynep Gulsum Guc & Tugba Yavuzsen

  3. Department of Medical Oncology, Numune Training and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey

    Mutlu Dogan

  4. Department of Medical Oncology, Mugla Sitki Kocman University, Muğla, Turkey

    Ozgur Tanriverdi

  5. Department of Medical Oncology, Marmara University School of Medicine, İstanbul, Turkey

    Serdar Turhal

  6. Medical Oncology, Ankara University School of Medicine, Ankara Üniversitesi Tıp fakültesi hastanesi, Cebeci hastanesi, Tıbbi onkoloji bilim dalı, Mamak/Ankara, TR 06890, Turkey

    Ali Alkan

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  1. Ali Alkan
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ali Alkan.

Ethics declarations

Institutional Ethics Committee approved the study protocol, and the study was in accordance with the ethical standards laid down in the 1964 Declaration of Helsinki. All persons gave their informed consent prior to their inclusion in the study.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Alkan, A., Guc, Z.G., Senler, F.C. et al. 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). Support Care Cancer 24, 3747–3755 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-016-3202-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-016-3202-6

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