ABSTRACT
Objective:
To describe the experiences of comfort and discomfort in women who underwent brachytherapy for the treatment of cervical cancer.
Methods:
Qualitative study carried out in 2013, based on Kolcaba comfort theory and conducted through semi-structured interviews with eight women who have completed treatment, at least, six months ago.
Results:
The following discomforts stood out: pain in the procedure and in the post-treatment effects, in the physical context; fear of the unknown and suffering; lack of a companion; stress due to embarrassment during treatment; low self-esteem; and post-therapy psychological trauma, in the psycho-spiritual context. Comfort measures consisted in dialogue with the professional, medication management and use of faith and spirituality.
Conclusion:
The results provide support for the practice of health professionals in relation to comfort and discomfort that deserve to be the target of intervention in terms of the assistance to women with cancer.
Keywords:
Brachytherapy; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms; Nursing Theory