Objective:
To characterize the socio-demographic profile of women with breast cancer who present neoplastic wounds, and to identify the dressings used most for treating these wounds.
Methods:
This study has a quantitative approach, is cross-sectional and retrospective. The data was collected through a review of hospital records of women with breast cancer in the period 2000-2011.
Results:
The sample was constituted of 62 women with a mean age of 55.4 years old; 75.8% were white, 55% had invasive ductal carcinoma and 27.4% were in clinical stage IIIb. Of the deaths recorded, 27% occurred in less than 1 year after the appearance of the wound. The symptoms recorded were pain (32.2%), bleeding (35%) and necrosis (21%). The products used were silver sulfadiazine (23%) and Essential Fatty Acid (EFA) (16.1%).
Conclusion:
The results point to a lack of systematization of nursing care related to oncological wounds in this service.
Breast neoplasms; Palliative Care; Nursing; Wounds and injuries