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Possibly no cure for surgery pain?

Page last modified on: September 19, 2008

Question from Judy: I have experienced breast pain following three surgeries and radiation treatments. The pain is sometimes just a nagging annoyance, but at other times is a knife-like pain. My surgeon has told me there is nothing to be done for the pain. Can this possibly be true?: Answers —Neal Slatkin, M.D.: I think your surgeon is saying that there's nothing he can think of that's useful for your pain. In that instance, you should seek an opinion from a pain management physician as to your options.

It's almost always possible to provide some pain relief in cases such as this. It's often not possible to completely remove or eradicate the pain, and so it's important to have realistic expectations. However, relief certainly can be achieved at least to a certain degree in most cases.; Jennifer Griggs, M.D., M.P.H.: An accurate assessment of the source and type of the pain will be critical in providing you the right type of approach.

On Wednesday, January 21, 2004, our Ask-the-Expert Online Conference was called Pain Management: Getting the Relief YOU Need. Neal Slatkin, M.D., Michelle Rhiner, N.P. and moderator Jennifer Griggs, M.D., M.P.H. answered your questions about the best ways to deal with the physical pain and discomforts associated with breast cancer and breast cancer treatment.

The materials presented in these conferences do not necessarily reflect the views of breastcancer.org. A qualified healthcare professional should be consulted before using any therapeutic product or regimen discussed. All readers should verify all information and data before employing any therapies described here.

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Meet the Experts

Neal Slatkin, M.D. is director of supportive care services and associate professor in the department of neurology at the City of Hope Cancer Center in Duarte, California.

Michelle Rhiner, N.P. is patient coordinator and department manager in the department of supportive care and palliative medicine at the City of Hope Cancer Center.

Jennifer Griggs, M.D., M.P.H. is a medical oncologist specializing in the treatment of breast cancer, with a a special interest in cancer survivorship, patient-physician communication, and quality of care for women with breast cancer.