March 10th, 2010 | 
Author:
Patients with advanced cancer often have pain as their chief complaint. Although advances in cancer treatment have lengthened survival among cancer patients, cancer pain remains under treated in patients. It has been estimated that 25% of all cancer patients who die, do so without adequate pain relief, despite the fact that the tools for adequate pain control are available. With advanced disease, 90% of patients with cancer require strong opiates to control their pain. However, many physicians remain concerned about inadvertently making a patient an addict if they prescribe narcotics to treat pain. Cultural and attitudinal barriers, knowledge deficits among health care professionals, and the influence of state and federal drug regulatory agencies also contribute to the fact that the pain experienced by cancer patients, all too often, is under-treated.
Cancer pain is classified according to pain duration and quality. Duration of pain can denote the acute or chronic nature of pain. It is common to experience anxiety, apprehension and depression in patients with cancer pain. The types of pain most commonly experienced by cancer patients are:
- Acute cancer related pain
- Chronic cancer related pain
- Pain unrelated to cancer
- Pain in opiod tolerant cancer patients
- End of life pain
After an appropriate medical history review and a physical, a pain physician will tailor a suitable pain treatment program. Because everyone has a different response to medications and therapies, the other types of drugs with pain relievers. They include anti-inflammatory steroids, anticonvulsants, and antidepressants. These drugs may be effective treatments for specific types of pain or pain with specific causes. For example, the doctor may prescribe antidepressants to help relieve certain types of pain. However, it doesn’t necessarily mean that the patient is suffering from depression. Similarly, steroids often are effective in relieving pain associated with inflammation.
Cancer pain can be controlled effectively through therapies already available today. Pain treatments range from mild, nonprescription pain relievers, to stronger prescription medications, to neurological surgery, to alternative therapies such as relaxation, biofeedback, guided imagery, and acupuncture.
Oncologists and pain specialists can devise a treatment plan based on the type and severity of pain, side effects, and how the patient responds to the treatment. Some common approaches to treat cancer pain include:
1. Oral Medicines- Aspirin & NSAIDs, Opiods, Adjuvants
2. Intravenous drugs
3. Transdermal drug delivery systems
4. Nerve blocks
5. Interthecal drug pumps
6. Neuroablstive procedures
Although they have cancer pain, many patients are afraid of getting addicted to pain medicines. When cancer pain medicines are given and taken in the right way, patients rarely become addicted to them. To be sure, they should talk to the doctor, nurse, or pharmacist about how to use pain medications safely. Many patients only need pain medicines for a time, until the cause of the pain goes away due to other treatments like chemotherapy, radiotherapy or surgery. When they are ready to stop taking the medicine, the doctor gradually lowers the amount of medicine they take. By the time they stop using it completely, the body has had time to adjust. Some patients will need to take pain medicines for the long-term. Taking medicines regularly should not make patients feel like an “addict.”
Physical dependence, tolerance to medication and addiction are three different issues in people treated with strong pain medications. The patient’s physician can explain the subtle but important difference between them. It’s often easier to control pain in its early stages, because it becomes severe. Therefore, it is better for cancer pain patients to ask for adequate pain relief.
A primary care physician or oncologist can help explain the possible options for pain relief and can make a referral, when necessary, to a pain medicine specialist for optimal pain management.
About Walton Rehabilitation Health System:
Walton Rehabilitation Health Systems (WRHS) is a leading not-for-profit comprehensive, multi-specialty, dedicated provider of physical medicine and rehabilitation. Our mission is to be an advocate for wellness by providing a continuum of services to treat the whole person. WRHS, whose reputation extends throughout the south, is a trusted partner with just the right expertise and treatments to help people with disabling injuries and illnesses return to work and to a fulfilling life. By pursuing its mission, WRHS has grown to include Walton Pain and Headache Centers, Walton Community Services, Walton Options for Independent Living, Walton Foundation for Independence, and Walton Technologies. We are located at: 1355 Independence Drive, Augusta, GA 30901-1037. For more information visit www.wrh.org or call 866-4-WALTON.
Hemant Yagnick, M.D.
http://www.articlesbase.com/diseases-and-conditions-articles/coping-with-cancer-pain-139658.html
Posted in nerve pain
How do we cope with the shock and pain of losing a family member to cancer?
There are some very good grief counselors out there who are qualified for that job.Losing someone close is very traumatic but the pain can be reduced.
References :
man its apainful thing cuz i had afriend that his twin brother died by canacer
its god welling you cant do any thing about it just stay beside them and help them to get throw it
References :
Sorry about your loss. Try to find a grief support group in your area. If you are in or near a big city you can usually find one and they are usually free. Type "grief support group" or "cancer support group" into google.
References :
you need to go and talk to someone who can help you. Its better you find someone who can help you now before you go farther into a state of depression.
References :
That’s a tough one, it will take some time. First, remind yourself that your loved one is no longer suffering and is in a wonderful, peaceful place. I think even when you can accept this, there is still pain. A large part of that is due to your own feeling of loss, and dealing with the emptiness that person once filled. I believe the soul continues on, so in some sense that person never really leaves. They are just not a visible part of our lives. The love continues, and the memories never leave. You can still talk to them, some people find comfort in that. It would be VERY valuable for you to join a support group that focus on cancer. (your oncologist can tell you were they are). It will really help to know that your not alone. If this is something that has happened recently, allow yourself time to grieve. If it has been a little while, and your still are having trouble moving thru the grief, you may want to talk to a counselor for help. Your family member would want you to go on and have a healthy, happy life. You will honor them by doing that. Good luck, and I’m very sorry you have to go thru this.
References :
just know that the family member is now no longer suffering in pain and is in a better place where youth and health is restored.
References :
I went through the shock and pain when my father died of cancer. My pain didn’t show up until i got older. I was a little girl when it happened. It’s been over twenty years now and it still hurts. The loss will always be apart of your life. This may sound negative as if there were no way to cope but coping to me is taking each day one day at a time. Some days will be more difficult than others. Night times may be even harder. I could say to you remember the good times and I’m so sorry for your loss but remembering the good times doesn’t always help someone cope with the loss. It hurts. One thing you can do is to try to take good care of yourself. It is easy to neglect yourself during times like these. Make sure you eat and try to get some sleep and talk to each other about how you feel. Time will take the edge off the pain but you will always miss this person.
References :