Analysis of chronic myofascial pain in the upper trapezius muscle of breast cancer survivors and women with neck pain.

Myofascial trigger points are present in dysfunctioning muscles and are associated with several diseases. However, the scientific literature has not established whether myofascial trigger points of differing etiologies have the same clinical characteristics. Thus, the objective of the present study was to compare the intensity of myofascial pain, catastrophizing, and the pressure pain threshold at myofascial trigger points among breast cancer survivors and women with neck pain. This was a cross-sectional study that included women over 18 years old complaining of myofascial pain in the upper trapezius muscle region for more than 90 days, equally divided into breast cancer survivors (n = 30) and those with neck pain (n = 30). For inclusion, the presence of a bilateral, active, and centrally located trigger point with mean distance from C7 to acromion in the upper trapezius was mandatory. The measures of assessment were: pain intensity, catastrophizing, and the pressure pain threshold at the myofascial trigger points. A significant difference was observed only when comparing pain intensity (p < 0.001) between the breast cancer survivors (median score: 8.00 points, first quartile: 7.00 points, third quartile: 8.75 points) and women with neck pain (median score: 2.50 points, first quartile: 2.00 points, third quartile: 4.00 points). No significant difference was found between groups in catastrophizing and pressure pain threshold. The conclusion of this study was that breast cancer survivors have a higher intensity of myofascial pain in the upper trapezius muscle when compared to patients with neck pain, which indicates the need for evaluation and a specific intervention for the myofascial dysfunction of these women.

Assessing the impact of pain on the life of breast cancer survivors using the Brief Pain Inventory.

[Purpose] This study attempted to assess the impact of pain on the life of breast cancer survivors using the Brief Pain Inventory (BPI). [Subjects and Methods] A cross-sectional study was conducted. Participants comprised 30 women, aged 30-80 years, who had received treatment for breast cancer (surgery and complementary treatment) at least 12 months prior to the study and had reported chronic pain related to the treatment procedures. [Results] The highest scores were found for "mood" (median: 5.00 points; first quartile: 1.00 points; third quartile: 7.25 points), "normal work" (median: 5.00 points; first quartile: 0.00 points; third quartile: 8.00 points), and "sleep" (median: 4.50 points, first quartile: 0.00 points, third quartile: 8.00 points). [Conclusion] Pain exerts a negative impact primarily on mood, normal work, and sleep among breast cancer survivors.

[Barriers in health care to breast cancer: perception of women]. / Barreiras na atenção em saúde ao câncer de mama: percepção de mulheres.

OBJECTIVE: Identifying the barriers in the access to health care to breast cancer perceived by women undergoing chemotherapy. METHOD: An exploratory descriptive study. The sample consisted of 58 women with breast cancer receiving chemotherapy and registered in the public oncology ambulatory of Aracaju-Sergipe. Data collection was carried out between October 2011 and March 2012 by semistructured interviews, and data were processed using the SPSS, version 17. RESULTS: Among the interviewed women, 37 (63.8%) reported at least a barrier in the trajectory of care for breast cancer. The organizational and health services barriers were the most reported in the periods of investigation and treatment of breast cancer. CONCLUSION: In face of these findings, the barriers should be considered in public health policies and programs for the control of breast cancer in Sergipe.