Childhood adversity may play a lasting role in how breast cancer survivors experience pain years after treatment, according to a study recently published in Biopsychosocial Science and Medicine.
Pain is one of the most common and persistent symptoms reported by women with breast cancer, with up to 60% of survivors reporting it after treatment.
In recent years, studies have linked childhood adversity to an increased risk of both physical and mental health problems, but not much is known about its potential effects on breast cancer survivors.
Researchers analyzed data from breast cancer survivors who completed questionnaires measuring their exposure to childhood adversity and their current pain symptoms. Adverse experiences included events such as abuse, neglect or household dysfunction during childhood. Participants were asked to describe both the severity of pain and how much it interfered with daily life.
The results showed that survivors who reported greater exposure to childhood adversity were more likely to experience higher levels of pain. They also reported more pain-related interference in everyday activities. These associations remained significant even after accounting for demographic, medical and treatment-related factors, suggesting that early-life experiences may independently influence long-term pain outcomes.
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Researchers also examined potential psychological pathways that might explain the link. Higher levels of childhood adversity were associated with increased symptoms of anxiety, depression and sleep disturbances. These factors were, in turn, connected with greater pain severity and interference with daily activities.
The study authors noted that children exposed to adversity may not develop healthy ways to express emotion as adults, leading to a greater risk of pain following major life stressors like breast cancer. They say that understanding the role of early-life stress could help clinicians better identify survivors at risk for chronic pain and tailor supportive care strategies, such as mindfulness-based stress reduction, which has been shown to ease pain in people with cancer.
“Overall, this work reinforces the need to consider psychosocial factors as an important aspect of pain to ultimately enhance quality of life for breast cancer survivors,” the authors wrote.
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