Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsShoulder PainShould Pain and Breast CancerTreatment and Management of Shoulder PainWhen to See Your Healthcare ProviderFrequently Asked Questions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Shoulder Pain
Should Pain and Breast Cancer
Treatment and Management of Shoulder Pain
When to See Your Healthcare Provider
Frequently Asked Questions
Shoulder painis one of the most common pain complaints among all people. It affects up to 26% of adults at any given time as a result of many different conditions.
Shoulder pain is not a common symptom of breast cancer. When it occurs, shoulder pain can be a symptom ofmetastasis. This occurs when the breast cancer cells spread from your breast to another site in your body.
Shoulder pain can involve breast cancer that has spread to your bones. It can also emerge as deferred pain from breast cancer that has spread to yourliver.
Shoulder pain, stiffness, frozen shoulder, and limited mobility can occur as a result of bruising, stretching, or other damage to the nerves that can occur during radiation therapy or breast surgery.
This article describes when shoulder pain could be a symptom of breast cancer, the causes of shoulder pain, when to see your healthcare provider, and the types of treatment.
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What Is Shoulder Pain?
Shoulder pain is a general term used to describe pain felt at any part of the shoulder. The feeling can range from annoying to excruciating.
Shoulder pain can originate in thejoints,muscles,cartilage,tendons, orligaments. It can also occur as referred pain from another part of the body.
Your shoulder has the greatest range of motion of any joint in your body. Because you use your shoulder in so many types of activities, shoulder pain can impact your quality of life. It can make it difficult to perform routine, work-related, and personal care tasks.
Causes of Shoulder Pain and Weakness
When to Seek Emergency Care
Is Shoulder Pain a Symptom of Breast Cancer?
In rare cases, shoulder pain can be a symptom of breast cancer. When it occurs, it is often a sign that breast cancer has spread, or metastasized, to other areas of your body. Breast cancer cells can spread through the blood or lymphatic system.
The main causes of shoulder pain due to breast cancer are:
Shoulder pain that occurs with breast cancer is handled differently from shoulder pain that occurs from an injury ormusculoskeletal disease. If you have shoulder pain from breast cancer, your healthcare team will likely use an imaging test like anX-rayormagnetic resonance imaging (MRI)to identify the location and type of problem that exists.
Your treatment may involve one or more of the following therapies:
Local Treatments for Breast Cancer Metastasis
No matter the cause of your shoulder pain, early treatment and intervention can often mean better outcomes and the prevention of further damage. This is often the case of shoulder pain linked to breast cancer.
Contact your healthcare provider if you experience shoulder pain with one or more of the following symptoms:
Some types of shoulder care require immediate attention from an emergency room or urgent care center:
Summary
Shoulder pain can occur as a result of many types of problems. While it can be linked to breast cancer, shoulder pain is not a common symptom of the disease.
When this happens, shoulder pain often occurs as a result of metastasis. This occurs when the breast cancer cells spread from your breast to another site in your body.
A Word From Verywell
No matter what your current health condition is, you’ve probably experienced shoulder pain as a result of an injury or overuse. While shoulder pain is common, it’s important to avoid dismissing it if it persists. When dealing with metastatic breast cancer, early detection and improvements in treatment can help reduce further damage and improve survival rates.
While a diagnosis of metastatic breast cancer can be devastating, there’s reason to be hopeful. New breast cancer treatments mean that your prognosis is likely to include an active lifestyle, effective pain management, and increased longevity.
Frequently Asked QuestionsThere are many potential causes of shoulder pain. Most shoulder problems occur as a result of tendon inflammation or tears, instability, arthritis, or fracture. Treatments can involve rest, medication, physical therapy, and/or surgery.When shoulder pain occurs as a symptom of breast cancer, treatment addresses both the underlying disease and preventing further damage.Learn MoreAnatomy of the Human Shoulder JointShoulder pain that affects the rotator cuff can radiate further down the arm.It can also cause pain under your arms and around thearmpit.Learn MoreCauses of Arm Pain and Treatment OptionsShoulder pain, stiffness, frozen shoulder, and limited mobility can occur as a result of bruising, stretching, or other damage to the nerves that can occur during radiation therapy or breast surgery. Breast cancer treatment can also cause scar tissue formation and changes in the anatomy of the shoulder and upper arm that can result in shoulder pain.Learn MoreWhat Causes Neck and Shoulder Pain?
There are many potential causes of shoulder pain. Most shoulder problems occur as a result of tendon inflammation or tears, instability, arthritis, or fracture. Treatments can involve rest, medication, physical therapy, and/or surgery.When shoulder pain occurs as a symptom of breast cancer, treatment addresses both the underlying disease and preventing further damage.Learn MoreAnatomy of the Human Shoulder Joint
There are many potential causes of shoulder pain. Most shoulder problems occur as a result of tendon inflammation or tears, instability, arthritis, or fracture. Treatments can involve rest, medication, physical therapy, and/or surgery.When shoulder pain occurs as a symptom of breast cancer, treatment addresses both the underlying disease and preventing further damage.
Learn MoreAnatomy of the Human Shoulder Joint
Shoulder pain that affects the rotator cuff can radiate further down the arm.It can also cause pain under your arms and around thearmpit.Learn MoreCauses of Arm Pain and Treatment Options
Shoulder pain that affects the rotator cuff can radiate further down the arm.It can also cause pain under your arms and around thearmpit.
Learn MoreCauses of Arm Pain and Treatment Options
Shoulder pain, stiffness, frozen shoulder, and limited mobility can occur as a result of bruising, stretching, or other damage to the nerves that can occur during radiation therapy or breast surgery. Breast cancer treatment can also cause scar tissue formation and changes in the anatomy of the shoulder and upper arm that can result in shoulder pain.Learn MoreWhat Causes Neck and Shoulder Pain?
Shoulder pain, stiffness, frozen shoulder, and limited mobility can occur as a result of bruising, stretching, or other damage to the nerves that can occur during radiation therapy or breast surgery. Breast cancer treatment can also cause scar tissue formation and changes in the anatomy of the shoulder and upper arm that can result in shoulder pain.
Learn MoreWhat Causes Neck and Shoulder Pain?
12 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Linaker CH, Walker-Bone K.Shoulder disorders and occupation.Best Pract Res Clin Rheumatol. 2015 Jun;29(3):405-23. doi:10.1016/j.berh.2015.04.001American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons.Shoulder pain and common shoulder problems.American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons.Metastatic bone disease.Pulido C, Vendrell I, Ferreira AR, et al.Bone metastasis risk factors in breast cancer.ecancer. 2017;11. doi:10.3332/ecancer.2017.715American Cancer Society.Bone metastases.American Cancer Society.Signs and symptoms of liver cancer.Breast Cancer Now.Secondary breast cancer in the liver.American Cancer Society.How pain medicines are given.Living Beyond Breast Cancer.Metastatic breast cancer to the bones.University of Utah.When to see an orthopedic doctor for shoulder & elbow pain.Printz C.Scientists estimate number of U.S. women living with metastatic breast cancer: new data collection and interpretation activities will help advance treatment efforts.Cancer. 2017 Aug 15;123(16):2995-2996. doi:10.1002/cncr.30886.Neto CM, Pezarat P, Oliveira R.Effects of breast cancer treatment on shoulder function: what to expect and how to treat?Int J Phys Ther Rehab2018:4:147. doi:10.15344/2455-7498/2018/147
12 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Linaker CH, Walker-Bone K.Shoulder disorders and occupation.Best Pract Res Clin Rheumatol. 2015 Jun;29(3):405-23. doi:10.1016/j.berh.2015.04.001American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons.Shoulder pain and common shoulder problems.American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons.Metastatic bone disease.Pulido C, Vendrell I, Ferreira AR, et al.Bone metastasis risk factors in breast cancer.ecancer. 2017;11. doi:10.3332/ecancer.2017.715American Cancer Society.Bone metastases.American Cancer Society.Signs and symptoms of liver cancer.Breast Cancer Now.Secondary breast cancer in the liver.American Cancer Society.How pain medicines are given.Living Beyond Breast Cancer.Metastatic breast cancer to the bones.University of Utah.When to see an orthopedic doctor for shoulder & elbow pain.Printz C.Scientists estimate number of U.S. women living with metastatic breast cancer: new data collection and interpretation activities will help advance treatment efforts.Cancer. 2017 Aug 15;123(16):2995-2996. doi:10.1002/cncr.30886.Neto CM, Pezarat P, Oliveira R.Effects of breast cancer treatment on shoulder function: what to expect and how to treat?Int J Phys Ther Rehab2018:4:147. doi:10.15344/2455-7498/2018/147
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Linaker CH, Walker-Bone K.Shoulder disorders and occupation.Best Pract Res Clin Rheumatol. 2015 Jun;29(3):405-23. doi:10.1016/j.berh.2015.04.001American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons.Shoulder pain and common shoulder problems.American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons.Metastatic bone disease.Pulido C, Vendrell I, Ferreira AR, et al.Bone metastasis risk factors in breast cancer.ecancer. 2017;11. doi:10.3332/ecancer.2017.715American Cancer Society.Bone metastases.American Cancer Society.Signs and symptoms of liver cancer.Breast Cancer Now.Secondary breast cancer in the liver.American Cancer Society.How pain medicines are given.Living Beyond Breast Cancer.Metastatic breast cancer to the bones.University of Utah.When to see an orthopedic doctor for shoulder & elbow pain.Printz C.Scientists estimate number of U.S. women living with metastatic breast cancer: new data collection and interpretation activities will help advance treatment efforts.Cancer. 2017 Aug 15;123(16):2995-2996. doi:10.1002/cncr.30886.Neto CM, Pezarat P, Oliveira R.Effects of breast cancer treatment on shoulder function: what to expect and how to treat?Int J Phys Ther Rehab2018:4:147. doi:10.15344/2455-7498/2018/147
Linaker CH, Walker-Bone K.Shoulder disorders and occupation.Best Pract Res Clin Rheumatol. 2015 Jun;29(3):405-23. doi:10.1016/j.berh.2015.04.001
American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons.Shoulder pain and common shoulder problems.
American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons.Metastatic bone disease.
Pulido C, Vendrell I, Ferreira AR, et al.Bone metastasis risk factors in breast cancer.ecancer. 2017;11. doi:10.3332/ecancer.2017.715
American Cancer Society.Bone metastases.
American Cancer Society.Signs and symptoms of liver cancer.
Breast Cancer Now.Secondary breast cancer in the liver.
American Cancer Society.How pain medicines are given.
Living Beyond Breast Cancer.Metastatic breast cancer to the bones.
University of Utah.When to see an orthopedic doctor for shoulder & elbow pain.
Printz C.Scientists estimate number of U.S. women living with metastatic breast cancer: new data collection and interpretation activities will help advance treatment efforts.Cancer. 2017 Aug 15;123(16):2995-2996. doi:10.1002/cncr.30886.
Neto CM, Pezarat P, Oliveira R.Effects of breast cancer treatment on shoulder function: what to expect and how to treat?Int J Phys Ther Rehab2018:4:147. doi:10.15344/2455-7498/2018/147
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