Back Pain From Breast Cancer Treatment
Back pain can range from sudden, sharp pain to a dull, constant ache. In some cases, the pain can radiate down one or both legs or get worse when you bend, sit, lift something, or walk.
Back pain is one of the most common medical problems in the world — eight out of 10 people have back pain at some point in their lives. Back pain is also a side effect of several breast cancer treatments.
Causes of back pain
Back pain can be caused by arthritis, disc deterioration, a herniated disc, inflammation, muscle knots, or injury.
Very rarely, back pain can also be caused by some types of cancer, such as:
breast cancer
colon cancer
lung cancer
pancreatic cancer
skin cancer (when it’s not diagnosed early and spreads)
spinal cancer
testicular cancer
Back pain can also be caused by cancers that have spread (metastasized) to the bones of the spine. For example, if you’ve been diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer that has spread to the spine, back pain is a common symptom. In many cases, spinal breast cancer lesions are treated with radiation.
Several breast cancer treatments might also cause back pain, including:
Joint pain, which can affect your lower back, is a possible side effect of chemotherapy, hormonal therapy, and targeted therapy. Chemotherapy and hormonal therapy can also cause thinning of the bones, called osteoporosis.
Back pain caused by something other than spinal lesions often is treated with a combination of exercises and stretching, in some cases prescribed by a physical therapist.
Treatments for back pain
Other techniques that can help to ease back pain are:
Your doctor also may recommend over-the-counter or prescription medicines to control back pain.
— Last updated on January 22, 2025 at 5:47 PM