In 2008, researchers from Denmark carried out a questionnaire study among 3,754 women who had received surgery for primary breast cancer between 2005 and 2006.

The study revealed that 47 per cent women experienced pain even after almost three years after the surgery. Of these 13 per cent reported severe pain.

Factors associated with chronic pain included young age and axillary lymph node dissection (a type of breast cancer surgery), according to the study published in the latest issue of Journal of American Medical Association (JAMA).

Women with sentinel lymph node dissection had less pain than those with axillary lymph node dissection. Sensory disturbances were also associated with younger age and axillary lymph node dissection, the study said.

The team also observed that pain reported in other parts of the body by the participants was associated with increased pain in surgical area.