AVALIAÇÃO DA DOR EM MULHERES COM CÂNCER DE MAMA SUBMETIDAS À EXÉRESE DA REDE LINFÁTICA AXILAR

An exploratory descriptive study aimed to evaluate the intensity and characteristics of the fifth vital sign, pain, in 20 women with breast cancer undergoing breast surgery with axillary lymphatic excision in the period from June to September 2008. It was accomplished through the application form. The pain was reported by 50% of the women as present at some time between diagnosis and treatment, the surgical period is considered the most critical. Regarding the intensity, low pain predominated (40%). As for its quality, the sensory descriptors most frequently cited were: slingshot (16.22%) and stings (16.22%) among the evaluative descriptors prevailed asleep (20%) and radiates (14.29%) and among the emotional ones predominated uncomfortable (17.65%). It is concluded that pain is a present symptom, which should be evaluated by nurses during routine care with the goal of providing effective intervention.