Introduction
Breast cancer does not commonly causes pain. However, shoulder blade pain can occasionally result from breast cancer that has metastasized (spread to other body regions). The bones are one of the most typical sites for breast cancer metastases. Pain may be brought on by the malignancy itself or by fractures that develop when bones deteriorate. Cancers of the uterus, thyroid, bladder, prostate, lung, and kidney can also metastasize to the bones. Additionally known to spread to the shoulder joint and shoulder blade are malignancies of the lung and kidney. Because part of the nerve networks that surround the liver are descended from the same nerves that attach at the right shoulder blade, discomfort near the right shoulder may also be a sign that breast cancer has spread to the liver. The patient could experience shoulder pain as a result of chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or surgery.
What Is Shoulder Pain?
Any pain experienced in the shoulder is referred to as shoulder pain. The sensation might be anything from gratifying to agonizing. Joints, muscles, cartilage, tendons, and ligaments can all be the source of shoulder pain. The referred pain from another area of the body to the shoulder might also be a reason for shoulder pain. The shoulder joint in the body has the widest range of motion. Shoulder pain can affect a patient's quality of life since they use their shoulders for so many different kinds of activities. It may be challenging to carry out regular, professional, and personal care responsibilities.
Usually, the cause of the pain determines the sort of pain felt. Some people experience shoulder pain because radiation therapy, a lumpectomy, mastectomy, or lymph node excision damages their nerves. A deep, dull discomfort in the joints or bones may indicate that cancer has metastasized and produced pain. The presence of pain near the right shoulder blade may indicate liver involvement.
Shoulder pain can also be caused by a variety of conditions, including the following:
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Tendonitis.
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Shoulder instability due to a tendon tear.
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Osteoarthritis Fracture.
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Tumors.
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Nerve-related issues.
Is Shoulder Pain a Symptom of Breast Cancer?
Shoulder pain is occasionally a sign of breast cancer. The occurrence of it is frequently an indication that breast cancer has metastasized or spread to other parts of the body. Breast cancer cells can spread via the lymphatic or blood systems.
1. Bone Tumor
Bone is one of the most typical sites where breast cancer spreads. Bone is the most typical site for the initial metastases in patients with early-stage breast cancer. When a tumor develops from the growth of breast cancer cells in the bones, pain may result. In contrast to tired muscles, which frequently result from overuse or wear and tear, bone discomfort produces a throbbing or excruciating pain.
2. Fractures
Breast cancer can damage bones when it invades them by speeding up the loss of healthy bone tissue or overproducing new bone. Bones may become more prone to fractures with little or no force when the degradation of existing bone tissue or the formation of new bone tissue happens at abnormal rates.
3. Deferred Discomfort From Breast Cancer That Has Progressed to Other Organs, Such as the Liver
Breast cancer can also spread to the liver, which is located on the upper right side of the abdomen. When this happens, the liver swells and presses on nerves that affect the right shoulder as well.
What Are the Treatment and Management Options For Shoulder Pain?
Shoulder pain associated with breast cancer is treated differently than shoulder pain associated with an injury or musculoskeletal illness. If a patient has shoulder pain as a result of breast cancer, the healthcare team will most likely perform an imaging test such as an X-ray or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to determine the location and type of problem.
Treatment may include one or more of the following therapies:
1. Drugs to Treat Bone Metastasis
These medications can aid in the prevention of bone deterioration and its consequences, such as fractures, hypercalcemia, and spinal cord compression. They are administered once a month via intravenous (IV) therapy or as a subcutaneous (under the skin) injection but may be administered less frequently if success is made. Bisphosphonate medications, such as Pamidronate, Zoledronic acid, and Denosumab, are used to treat bone metastases.
2. Bone Fracture Surgery:
When a broken bone arises as a result of breast cancer, the fracture is repaired surgically. This is commonly accomplished by placing steel support over the break.
3. Radiation Therapy
It is used to prevent further damage post-surgery and to treat fractures caused by bone metastases. It is also used to treat hepatic metastases, which can cause postponed shoulder pain.
4. Pain Medicine
The pain brought on by breast cancer that has spread to the shoulder is managed by a variety of painkillers. The most appropriate drugs can be chosen by the medical team based on the type and origin of the pain. These medications can be given orally, subcutaneously, recto-rectally, intravenously, or with a patient-operated pump.
5. Systemic Therapies
Cancer cells can be attacked throughout the body with systemic therapy. These therapies consist of chemotherapy, hormone therapy, and anti-HER2 targeted medicines.
Conclusion
There are numerous issues that might lead to shoulder pain. Shoulder pain is not a typical sign of breast cancer, regardless of the fact that it has been connected to the disease.
When this occurs, metastasis frequently results in shoulder pain. This happens when breast cancer cells travel from the breast to another part of the body. Metastases in the bones frequently cause morbidity. Twenty-nine percent of patients who experienced their initial bone relapse went on to experience one or more of the serious consequences that include spinal cord compression, pathological fracture, hypercalcemia, and bone destruction. Patients with hypercalcemia had a terrible prognosis, with a median survival time of only three months, while protracted remissions of up to 56 months have been reported. This unpleasant consequence might occur less frequently if early orthopedic intervention and better pathological fracture prognosis are used. To learn more about this condition, consult an online doctor.
