Patterns of pain and distress during high-dose-rate intracavity brachytherapy for cervical cancer

Over the past decade, outpatient high-dose-rate (HDR) brachytherapy has become increasingly common in the treatment of many women with cervical cancer. In our study, we explored women's experiences of pain and distress over a series of five HDR brachytherapy procedures given for cervical cancer. Seventeen patients receiving HDR cervical brachytherapy with conscious sedation for stages I-III cervical cancer completed ratings of pain intensity and distress and a measure of physical and emotional discomfort with each procedure. The majority of women reported worst pain in the mild to moderate range and similar ratings of worst distress across the series of procedures. The most physically uncomfortable aspect of treatment was removal of the instruments after the procedure, when sedatives had worn off. The most emotionally uncomfortable aspect was worry about the effects of treatment. A subset of women reported having recalled pain from previous procedures, despite the use of conscious sedation medications. Those women who recalled having had pain rated their worst pain during the procedure higher than women who did not recall having had pain. For most patients, HDR brachytherapy delivered with conscious sedation is well tolerated with only mild pain and distress. However, a small number of patients may experience more significant symptoms and may require additional medical and psychosocial support.