Neuropathic Pain in Breast Cancer Survivors: Using the ID Pain as a Screening Tool

Neuropathic pain (NP) is a debilitating symptom experienced by a number of patients with cancer. We evaluated the validity of ID Pain as a screening tool for NP in breast cancer survivors using the Self-Report Leeds Assessment of Neuropathic Symptoms and Signs (S-LANSS) and a reported diagnosis of NP as criterion measures. Two hundred forty breast cancer survivors with a mean age of 58 years (standard deviation = 16) participated in this survey. Forty-five percent of the sample reported having pain in the past week. Of those reporting pain, 33% reported that they had been diagnosed by their health care provider with NP, 39% had a positive ID Pain (≥2) score, and 19% had a positive S-LANSS score. The most commonly endorsed ID Pain item was “hot/burning” (n = 48) followed by feeling “numb” (n = 47) and “pins and needles” (n = 45). Total ID Pain score was significantly associated with a clinical diagnosis of NP (r = 0.41; P < 0.001) and the S-LANSS total score (r = 0.54; P < 0.001). Receiver operating curve analysis demonstrated that ID Pain has a predictive validity of 0.72 and 0.70 for diagnosis of NP as made by clinicians and the S-LANSS, respectively. We also found that an ID Pain score greater than or equal to 2 corresponded with the likelihood of NP in this sample, consistent with the original ID Pain development study. This study provides evidence for ID Pain as a valid screening measure for NP in breast cancer survivors.