Long-Term Complications and Management

Abstract

As with all surgical and medical procedures, the sequela of an intervention will have some impact on the body. For women with breast cancer, treatment can often include a spectrum of modalities such as surgery, radiation therapy, or systemic chemotherapy, and fortunately, most sequelae are short-lived. However, some problems persist and become a chronic, life-altering, and quality-of-life diminishing issue that often is either ignored or not treated, secondary to the unawareness of the condition. These problems can run the range of chronic postoperative pain, seroma formation, and poor cosmesis. This chapter attempts to provide a basic understanding of some of the most frequently encountered chronic problems after breast cancer treatment with hypothesis for potential causes and some suggestions for management.