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Dealing with Cancer Pain
by Debra Sully
http://www.fpaino.com
"When we cling to pain, we end up punishing ourselves"
(quote by Leo F. Buscaglia). Cancer and pain often go hand
in hand. For the 30 to 50% of patients who undergo cancer
treatment, these souls experience pain as result of the
treatment. And, for the 70 to 90% who have advanced stages
of cancer, this group experiences pain that directly comes
from the cancer.
A feeling of pain is the result when the brain receives
signals from the nerves that the body is being damaged by
some force, in this case the chemotherapy that is killing
cells or the cancer itself which is damaging the body.
Chronic pain is an ongoing pain and becomes a major stressor
to both the body and the mind, affecting a person's entire
well-being. Along with chronic cancer pain, cancer patients
may also experience what is termed as breakthrough pain,
which a is a spike or temporary increase in the amount of
pain. Fortunately, about 95% of cancer patients can find
relief from their pain through prescription drugs or other
means.
Since pain is manageable for so many cancer patients, why
aren't more patients seeking relief? Uneasiness about
aggressively attacking this discomfort inhibits many
patients from letting their doctor know about their
experience. Some patients were taught from a young age that
complaining gets you nowhere and they end up needlessly
"suffering in silence". Doctors are also accomplices to
this injustice by placing more emphasis on the treatment of
the cancer rather than bringing up pain. Another common
reason is a hesitancy to take or prescribe strong
painkillers like morphine that can be addictive.
While cancer pain responds well to pain medications, there
are also a number of non-drug alternative therapies that
work to relieve cancer pain. Some techniques that can be
effective when coupled with pain medication are biofeedback,
acupuncture, massage and hypnosis. If the cancer is a type
that presents with a tumor, surgery or radiation therapy
that shrinks the tumor may help if the tumor is impinging on
nerves or organs and causing the pain.
Pain medications are most effective if they are taken on a
regular schedule, such as every 8 or 12 hours. A regular
schedule keeps a fixed amount of pain medication in the
body at all times. An additional dose may be taken on
demand if breakthrough pain occurs. Many people do not
want to rely on pain medication and prefer to take it when
the pain becomes severe. This is totally the wrong approach
as the pain has taken over. It is easier to manage pain
with a regular schedule than try to overcome pain.
The time to start managing pain is at the on-set of this
complicated disease so that the patient and her doctor can
find the right plan for her situation. Sometimes before the
patient finds that right solution, she have to try out
different combinations. Even at that point, the disease may
continue to change and so will that patient's treatment. If
at any point, the patient feels "out of it", overmedication
may be the result and the management regimen should change.
Each cancer patient has the possibility to experience pain
during treatment and as result of the disease. Don't take
the safe route and let pain overcome you. It's much better
to be pro-active in your fight against the cancer and find a
pain treatment that works for you or your loved one.
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