Bahian woman who faced breast cancer transformed experience into treatment for women’s intimate health

Facing breast cancer led 49-year-old Bahian physical therapist and researcher Patrícia Lordêlo to direct her studies toward a problem still rarely discussed among women undergoing cancer treatment: the impacts of chemotherapy on intimate health.

After experiencing intense pain and lesions in the genital region during her own treatment, she decided to expand research using blue LED to investigate ways to alleviate the symptoms.

The technology had already been studied by the scientist prior to her diagnosis, received in October 2024 when she was 47. However, it was during chemotherapy that Patrícia noticed genital changes did not appear only after treatment, as had been investigated by her team, but also during the administration of the medications.

Building on this experience, the researcher developed a new version of the equipment aimed at home use.

Bahian physical therapist who had breast cancer researches LED treatment for women's intimate health — Photo: Rafaela Paixão/g1

The project received support from the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq) in August 2026, and aims to compare the results of home application with those of treatment performed in an outpatient clinic.

In an interview with g1, Patrícia shared that the research was born out of a difficulty she faced during her illness: leaving the house to receive care in the days following chemotherapy sessions.

"The hardest part for me was going out to get treatment. I was in pain, it was very uncomfortable. The post-chemo period is very difficult. The first five days are when we are at our weakest."

Her personal and scientific journey also transformed into the book “Inteira: Uma história real de corpo, intimidade, ciência, espiritualidade e reconstrução” (Whole: A True Story of Body, Intimacy, Science, Spirituality, and Reconstruction), which will be released this Sunday (18), during Pink October, at the Portuguese Reading Cabinet of Salvador.

The autobiography features a preface by actress Regina Casé, who grew close to the researcher during her cancer treatment and will participate in the book launch.

Patrícia notes that Regina played an important role in her emotional recovery, especially by helping her reclaim her professional identity during a period when the disease occupied a large part of her routine.

"She helped me see myself back in that professional role, because I was very much in a patient mindset."

All proceeds from the commercial rights of the publication will go to the Patrícia Lordêlo Institute (IPL), which serves about three thousand patients through the Unified Health System (SUS).

The launch takes place during Pink October—an international breast cancer awareness campaign—and seeks to broaden the discussion on an aspect that, according to the researcher, still needs to gain space: women's quality of life during and after treatment.

Research seeks to alleviate chemotherapy's effects on intimate health

Since 2019, Patrícia and her team have been studying the use of intravaginal blue LED as a non-hormonal alternative for treating pelvic dysfunctions.

Among the problems investigated are vaginal dryness, pain during sexual intercourse, and vaginal stenosis, which is characterized by the narrowing of the vaginal canal.

The equipment was developed by the research group, patented, and its technology was transferred to the industry. The original version, intended for outpatient use, is already commercialized and used in specialized care.

Before discovering the cancer, Patrícia was participating in a randomized clinical trial with women who had completed treatment for the disease. The study investigated the effects of photobiomodulation on genital changes associated, among other factors, with the use of medications that block hormone action.

According to the physical therapist, hormone reduction can cause symptoms similar to those of menopause, affecting vaginal lubrication, elasticity, and comfort.

According to Patrícia, however, her experience as a patient revealed another dimension of the problem.

"When I had cancer, I began to realize that chemotherapy leads to [other] problems during chemotherapy. So it's not just afterward, with the hormonal failure we experience from the ovaries."

Patrícia reports that she suffered lesions and intense burning in the genital region during treatment. At times, the discomfort was so great that simple contact between urine and the sensitized skin caused pain. "At times, I felt the area was completely raw. It was very painful," she recalled.

Innovation in treatment

Since she already had access to the equipment developed by her team, the researcher began using it during her own treatment. However, the device required outpatient application, which became an obstacle during periods when she was most debilitated.

Out of this difficulty arose the proposal to develop a version that patients could use at home, without the need for frequent travel.

The researcher emphasizes, however, that personal experience is not equivalent to scientific proof of the equipment's efficacy during chemotherapy. Therefore, she decided to structure a new clinical investigation.

"Since I developed this equipment, I said: 'Now I need to clinically test it in women using home use and outpatient use in women who are undergoing treatment,'" Patrícia Lordêlo stated.

How intravaginal blue LED works

The device uses a technique called photobiomodulation, which involves applying light to produce specific biological effects in tissues.

According to Patrícia, the equipment developed by the team has a shape similar to an umbrella. A rounded part remains on the external genital region, while an elongated structure is introduced into the vaginal canal.

"Imagine an umbrella, where the round part stays on the outside and the handle is placed in the vaginal canal," she detailed.

The proposal is for the light to act on both the vaginal mucosa and the external tissues of the genital region. According to the researcher, photobiomodulation is being investigated for its potential effects on tissue regeneration, blood circulation, and vascularization.

"LED has regenerative effects on tissue, improving circulation and vascularization. It modifies this tissue through photobiomodulation," she said.

The development of non-hormonal alternatives is especially relevant for women who have faced certain types of breast cancer, since some patients use medications to block hormone action and may have restrictions on estrogen treatments.

Despite the promising results reported by the team, the efficacy and safety of the technology depend on clinical indication and the protocol used. Use during chemotherapy and home application still need to be evaluated in specific studies.

The latest investigation aims to compare two forms of applying the technology: outpatient treatment, performed by healthcare professionals, and home use, with equipment developed for this purpose.

The proposal is to evaluate the results and safety of the application in women undergoing cancer treatment.

Patrícia explained that the research received support from CNPq in August 2026, through the renewal of her scientific productivity scholarship. This recognition, she said, is related to her academic background and the development of studies in women's health.

However, the new project still needs to fulfill steps before testing with participants can begin, including evaluation by the research ethics committee. "We received scholarship approval in August 2026. We end up having a gap before starting because we have to get approval from the ethics committee; there is a whole path to follow before beginning," she pointed out.

According to her, the results obtained with the outpatient equipment were encouraging, especially regarding vaginal lubrication, comfort, and the sexual function of the participants.

"Outpatient-wise, we have extremely encouraging results. It improves sexual function, improves lubrication, and these women feel more supported and have an area much more favorable for sexual intercourse."

In 2022, the group led by Patrícia received the award for best conservative treatment at the ICS Annual Meeting of the International Continence Society in Vienna, Austria.

The recognition was granted for a study on the use of LED in treating Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause in women who survived breast cancer. The condition brings together genital, urinary, and sexual changes related to reduced hormone levels, such as vaginal dryness, irritation, pain during intercourse, and urinary discomfort.

The outpatient equipment developed by the physical therapy team is already used in care provided by the Patrícia Lordêlo Institute (IPL) in Salvador.

According to the physical therapist, the institution is a non-profit association that serves exclusively through the Unified Health System (SUS) and receives approximately 3,000 to 3,500 patients per month.

Women experiencing pelvic dysfunctions after breast cancer treatment can already access the technique through the services offered by the institute, subject to professional evaluation and indication.

Breast cancer diagnosis

Patrícia studies the use of intravaginal blue LED as a non-hormonal alternative for treating pelvic dysfunctions — Photo: Disclosure

The path that led Patrícia to expand her research began in October 2024, when she was 47 years old. Even before identifying any changes in her breast, the physical therapist says she "felt" she had cancer.

"I woke up and looked at my mother and said, 'Look, I have cancer.'"

The next day, she sought medical care and began an investigation. The mammogram showed a BI-RADS 2 classification, associated with benign findings, and an ultrasound indicated the possibility of another exam, but without any urgency.

Even after being evaluated by a mastologist, who also found no suspicious changes, Patrícia insisted on a deeper investigation. The diagnosis was confirmed on October 11, 2024. "Even with this intuition that I had cancer, reading the result is very difficult. Especially because I am from the field and know the challenges," she emphasized.

According to her, the disease exhibited aggressive behavior and rapid progression. In less than two weeks, the tumor went from a change not identifiable by palpation to a visible mass in her breast.

"On the 11th, when I was examined, it couldn't be felt by touch, and it didn't show up on exams. By the 24th, it was visible to the naked eye. Just by raising my arm, there was a lump in my breast."

The researcher considers that the experience brought together two important aspects of her journey: scientific knowledge and spirituality.

After receiving the diagnosis, Patrícia began cancer treatment, which included chemotherapy and surgery involving the removal of both breasts (bilateral mastectomy). Afterward, she underwent breast reconstruction with implants.

Book born from the lack of information about the effects of cancer

It was precisely the absence of guidance on intimate health that motivated Patrícia to begin writing the book "Inteira: Uma história real de corpo, intimidade, ciência, espiritualidade e reconstrução".

Initially, the proposal was to produce a technical work focused on genital care during and after breast cancer treatment.