Objective. To identify the features of pain syndrome before and after various surgical treatments of breast cancer, choose the optimal method and improve the quality of life in working-age patients.

Material and methods. We followed-up 353 women with breast cancer before and for 5 years after surgery using the visual analogue scale, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale and the SF-36 questionnaire.

Results. Pain bothered 89% of patients within 6 months after surgical treatment. The most intense pain syndrome (8±1.3 points) was observed in early postoperative period. Moderate and severe pain syndrome (up to 7±1.2 points) was also observed after installation of expander. Insertion of implant decreased pain syndrome. There was weak correlation between pain syndrome and anxiety (G=0.16, p=0.027), pain syndrome and depression (G=0.18, p=0.019). Maximum scores were observed in the mastectomy group. Mean cumulative SF-36 score decreased by 15.9% (p=0.074) over 5-year follow-up in the mastectomy group. This value increased by 18.3% and 20.1% in the simultaneous and delayed reconstruction groups, respectively.

Conclusion. Reconstructive plastic surgery reduced severity of pain and improved psycho-emotional state of women that positively affects quality of life.

Keywords. postmastectomy syndrome, pain, breast cancer, reconstructive surgery