Postoperative Pain After Breast Cancer Surgery: Prevalence and Predictors

We investigated the prevalence and predictors of postoperative pain severity following breast cancer surgery in Jordan. We enrolled 230 women undergoing mastectomy or partial mastectomy for breast cancer at a cancer center in Jordan. The participants provided demographic and clinical data, and we assessed their postoperative pain within 24 hours following surgery. A total of 212 patients completed the survey. Their ages ranged from 24‒84 years (M = 55.83, SD = 13.55). Among them, 73 (34%) underwent total mastectomy, and 139 (65.6%) had breast-conserving partial mastectomy. Within 24 hours after surgery, the mean worst possible pain scores at rest and with movement were 2.26 (SD = 1.9) and 4.28 (SD = 2.3), respectively. More than 31% of participants (n = 67) reported moderate to severe pain at rest, and 128 (60.4%) experienced moderate to severe pain with movement. Multiple regression analysis showed that age (β = -0.210, p = .003), chronic opioid use (β = 0.296, p < .001), and preemptive medication (β = -0.156, p = .030) were significant predictors of pain at rest. Age (β = -0.351, p < .0001), chronic opioid use (β = 0.147, p = .011), preemptive medication (β = ‒0.156, p = .002), and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs use (β = ‒0.149, p = .018) predicted pain with movement. We conclude that postoperative pain remains a substantial concern among Jordanian breast cancer patients, particularly for those who are younger, have a history of chronic opioid use, or do not receive preemptive analgesia.