Phantom Breast Pain
Phantom breast pain is feeling pain in the breast that has been removed. Phantom breast pain can happen after mastectomy for the same reasons phantom pains happen after limb amputations. The brain continues to send signals to nerves in the breast area that were cut during surgery, even though the breast is no longer there. You're more likely to have phantom breast pain if you had breast pain before you had a mastectomy.
Symptoms of phantom breast pain include the following sensations where the breast used to be:
- pain and discomfort
- itching
- pins and needles sensation
- tingling
- pressure
- burning
- throbbing
If there is intense pain associated with the phantom breast sensation, talk to your doctor about pain medication that can help.
Can we help guide you?
Create a profile for better recommendations
-
Your Breast Cancer Diagnosis
Just as no two people are exactly alike, no two breast cancers are exactly the same, either. Your...
- How to Ease Aromatase Inhibitor-Related Pain
-
Managing Your Medical Records
Each doctor and medical facility you visit keeps a medical record for you that includes...
-
Mastectomy and Breast Reconstruction Video Series
If you’ve been diagnosed with breast cancer, there are a number of surgical options for removing...
-
Tenacious D: I Was Strong; Cancer Made Me Stronger
“I want to make every woman diagnosed with breast cancer a rock star.” Dianne Wilson’s indigo...
