Pain, Sensory Disturbances, and Psychological Distress among Danish Women Treated for Ductal Carcinoma In Situ: An Exploratory Study

TY - JOUR

T1 - Pain, Sensory Disturbances, and Psychological Distress among Danish Women Treated for Ductal Carcinoma In Situ

T2 - An Exploratory Study

AU - Mertz, Birgitte Goldschmidt

AU - Duriaud, Helle M

AU - Kroman, Niels

AU - Andersen, Kenneth G

N1 - Copyright © 2017 American Society for Pain Management Nursing. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

PY - 2017/10

Y1 - 2017/10

N2 - Ductal carcinoma in situ is a noninvasive precancer condition. The treatment resembles the treatment of invasive breast cancer. The aim of this exploratory study was to gain knowledge on the level of postoperative pain, sensory disturbances, and distress among a small group of Danish women with ductal carcinoma in situ who had sentinel lymph node biopsy in order to plan a population study. A subgroup of patients with ductal carcinoma in situ (n = 20) was compared to patients with invasive breast cancer (n = 455) at time of diagnosis and after 12 months. Six patients were interviewed on the impact of the diagnosis and life after treatment. We found no significant difference in reported sensory disturbances or pain after 12 months between the groups. More than one-third (39%) of ductal carcinoma in situ patients reported moderate to severe distress (≥ 7 on the Distress Thermometer) at time of diagnosis decreasing to 10% after 12 months. Similarly 36% of breast cancer patients reported distress at time of diagnosis and 10% after 12 months. Interviews confirmed that ductal carcinoma in situ patients experienced distress and also uncovered physical problems and rehabilitation needs. The study indicates that women with ductal carcinoma in situ seem to suffer from pain and distress. The study highlights the need for a large study in order to validate the findings. Additional efforts may be needed to improve patients' understanding of diagnosis of ductal carcinoma in situ and alleviate psychological morbidity and physical restraints related to the condition.

AB - Ductal carcinoma in situ is a noninvasive precancer condition. The treatment resembles the treatment of invasive breast cancer. The aim of this exploratory study was to gain knowledge on the level of postoperative pain, sensory disturbances, and distress among a small group of Danish women with ductal carcinoma in situ who had sentinel lymph node biopsy in order to plan a population study. A subgroup of patients with ductal carcinoma in situ (n = 20) was compared to patients with invasive breast cancer (n = 455) at time of diagnosis and after 12 months. Six patients were interviewed on the impact of the diagnosis and life after treatment. We found no significant difference in reported sensory disturbances or pain after 12 months between the groups. More than one-third (39%) of ductal carcinoma in situ patients reported moderate to severe distress (≥ 7 on the Distress Thermometer) at time of diagnosis decreasing to 10% after 12 months. Similarly 36% of breast cancer patients reported distress at time of diagnosis and 10% after 12 months. Interviews confirmed that ductal carcinoma in situ patients experienced distress and also uncovered physical problems and rehabilitation needs. The study indicates that women with ductal carcinoma in situ seem to suffer from pain and distress. The study highlights the need for a large study in order to validate the findings. Additional efforts may be needed to improve patients' understanding of diagnosis of ductal carcinoma in situ and alleviate psychological morbidity and physical restraints related to the condition.

KW - Aged

KW - Breast Neoplasms/complications

KW - Carcinoma, Ductal/complications

KW - Cohort Studies

KW - Cost of Illness

KW - Female

KW - Focus Groups

KW - Humans

KW - Middle Aged

KW - Netherlands/epidemiology

KW - Pain Measurement/methods

KW - Pain, Postoperative/epidemiology

KW - Prospective Studies

KW - Qualitative Research

KW - Sensation Disorders/epidemiology

KW - Social Support

KW - Stress, Psychological/complications

U2 - 10.1016/j.pmn.2017.03.004

DO - 10.1016/j.pmn.2017.03.004

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 28602450

SN - 1524-9042

VL - 18

SP - 309

EP - 317

JO - Pain Management Nursing

JF - Pain Management Nursing

IS - 5

ER -