Pain in Breast Cancer Treatment: Aggravating Factors and Coping Mechanisms

The objective of this study was to evaluate pain in women with breast cancer-related lymphedema and the characteristics of aggravating factors and coping mechanisms. The study was conducted in the Clinica Godoy, São Jose do Rio Preto, with a group of 46 women who had undergone surgery for the treatm...

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Main Authors: Maria de Fatima Guerreiro Godoy, Livia Maria Pereira de Godoy, Stelamarys Barufi, José Maria Pereira de Godoy
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2014-01-01
Series:International Journal of Breast Cancer
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2014/832164
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author Maria de Fatima Guerreiro Godoy
Livia Maria Pereira de Godoy
Stelamarys Barufi
José Maria Pereira de Godoy
author_facet Maria de Fatima Guerreiro Godoy
Livia Maria Pereira de Godoy
Stelamarys Barufi
José Maria Pereira de Godoy
author_sort Maria de Fatima Guerreiro Godoy
collection DOAJ
description The objective of this study was to evaluate pain in women with breast cancer-related lymphedema and the characteristics of aggravating factors and coping mechanisms. The study was conducted in the Clinica Godoy, São Jose do Rio Preto, with a group of 46 women who had undergone surgery for the treatment of breast cancer. The following variables were evaluated: type and length of surgery; number of radiotherapy and chemotherapy sessions; continued feeling of the removed breast (phantom limb), infection, intensity of pain, and factors that improve and worsen the pain. The percentage of events was used for statistical analysis. About half the participants (52.1%) performed modified radical surgery, with 91.3% removing only one breast; 82.6% of the participants did not perform breast reconstruction surgery. Insignificant pain was reported by 32.60% of the women and 67.3% said they suffered pain; it was mild in 28.8% of the cases (scale 1–5), moderate in 34.8% (scale 6–9), and severe in 4.3%. The main mechanisms used to cope with pain were painkillers in 41.30% of participants, rest in 21.73%, religious ceremonies in 17.39%, and chatting with friends in 8.69%. In conclusion, many mastectomized patients with lymphedema complain of pain, but pain is often underrecognized and undertreated.
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series International Journal of Breast Cancer
spelling doaj-art-0f1e65ff7e5d490ca84e031403f7ea992025-08-20T02:02:38ZengWileyInternational Journal of Breast Cancer2090-31702090-31892014-01-01201410.1155/2014/832164832164Pain in Breast Cancer Treatment: Aggravating Factors and Coping MechanismsMaria de Fatima Guerreiro Godoy0Livia Maria Pereira de Godoy1Stelamarys Barufi2José Maria Pereira de Godoy3Medicine School of São Jose do Rio Preto (FAMERP), Research Group of Godoy Clinic, Avenida Constituição 1306, 15025-120 São Jose do Rio Preto, SP, BrazilMedicine School of Santos, UNILUS and Research Group of Godoy Clinic, 15025-120 São Jose do Rio Preto, SP, BrazilLymphovenous Rehabilitation (FAMERP) and Research Group of Godoy Clinic, 15025-120 São Jose do Rio Preto, SP, BrazilCardiovascular Surgery Department, Medicine School in São José do Rio Preto (FAMERP) and National Council for Research and Development (CNPq), 15025-120 São Jose do Rio Preto, SP, BrazilThe objective of this study was to evaluate pain in women with breast cancer-related lymphedema and the characteristics of aggravating factors and coping mechanisms. The study was conducted in the Clinica Godoy, São Jose do Rio Preto, with a group of 46 women who had undergone surgery for the treatment of breast cancer. The following variables were evaluated: type and length of surgery; number of radiotherapy and chemotherapy sessions; continued feeling of the removed breast (phantom limb), infection, intensity of pain, and factors that improve and worsen the pain. The percentage of events was used for statistical analysis. About half the participants (52.1%) performed modified radical surgery, with 91.3% removing only one breast; 82.6% of the participants did not perform breast reconstruction surgery. Insignificant pain was reported by 32.60% of the women and 67.3% said they suffered pain; it was mild in 28.8% of the cases (scale 1–5), moderate in 34.8% (scale 6–9), and severe in 4.3%. The main mechanisms used to cope with pain were painkillers in 41.30% of participants, rest in 21.73%, religious ceremonies in 17.39%, and chatting with friends in 8.69%. In conclusion, many mastectomized patients with lymphedema complain of pain, but pain is often underrecognized and undertreated.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2014/832164
spellingShingle Maria de Fatima Guerreiro Godoy
Livia Maria Pereira de Godoy
Stelamarys Barufi
José Maria Pereira de Godoy
Pain in Breast Cancer Treatment: Aggravating Factors and Coping Mechanisms
International Journal of Breast Cancer
title Pain in Breast Cancer Treatment: Aggravating Factors and Coping Mechanisms
title_full Pain in Breast Cancer Treatment: Aggravating Factors and Coping Mechanisms
title_fullStr Pain in Breast Cancer Treatment: Aggravating Factors and Coping Mechanisms
title_full_unstemmed Pain in Breast Cancer Treatment: Aggravating Factors and Coping Mechanisms
title_short Pain in Breast Cancer Treatment: Aggravating Factors and Coping Mechanisms
title_sort pain in breast cancer treatment aggravating factors and coping mechanisms
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2014/832164
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