Cancer Pain
:: Cancer Pain and its Treatment
Cancer pain is a common and distressing symptom of cancer that affects a large number of patients worldwide. It can be caused by the cancer itself or by the treatments used to treat the cancer. Cancer pain can be a major cause of suffering, reducing the quality of life for patients and their families. Fortunately, there are many treatments available to help manage cancer pain.
:: Types of Cancer Pain
The type of cancer pain can be categorized in the following ways:
1. Acute Pain: Acute pain is typically short-lived and is caused by tissue damage. Acute pain may be experienced after surgery or other invasive procedures, such as a biopsy.
2. Chronic Pain: Chronic pain is pain that persists beyond the expected (3-6months) healing time.
3. Neuropathic Pain: Neuropathic pain is caused by damage to the nerves. It is a common type of pain experienced by cancer patients who have received chemotherapy or radiation therapy.
4. Bone Pain: Bone pain is caused by the cancer spreading to the bones depicting a metastatic disease.
Treatments for Cancer Pain
There are several treatment options available to help manage cancer pain. The type of treatment used will depend on the type of pain and the individual patient's needs.
Some of the treatments for cancer pain include:
Medications: Medications most commonly used to manage cancer pain are given by WHO ladder.
There are several types of medications available, including nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), opioids, and adjuvant medications.
Diagram:
1. Radiation Therapy: Radiation therapy may be used to treat cancer pain that is caused by bone metastasis. The radiation helps to shrink the tumor, which can reduce the pain.
2. Surgery: Surgery may be used to remove a tumor in early stages of the disease.
3. Nerve Blocks: Nerve blocks are injections of medication that are used to block the transmission of pain signals from the nerves. They are typically used to treat neuropathic pain.
4. Complementary Therapies: Complementary therapies, such as acupuncture,relaxation, distraction therapies, massage, and meditation, may be used in combination with other treatments to help manage cancer pain.
:: Role of Pain and Palliative Care clinic in Cancer:
1.To treat symptoms associated with cancer for example breathlessness, pain, nausea, vomiting, constipation, headache etc.
2.Titrated infusions of opioids, image guided nerve blocks, intrathecal pump placement.
3.To provide you emotional, spiritual and psychological support.
4.To support you in fundraising.
5.To educate the caregivers in coping in a better way.
6.To help in rehabilitation.
7.To guide you in the journey with honest communication and a holistic approach.
:: Conclusion
Cancer pain is a common and distressing symptom of cancer that affects a large number of patients. It can be caused by the cancer itself or by the treatments used to treat the cancer. Fortunately, there are many treatments available to help manage cancer pain. The type of treatment used will depend on the type of pain and the individual patient's needs. If you are experiencing cancer pain, it is important to talk to your healthcare provider about your treatment options and you can approach a pain expert to share your symptoms to improve quality of life.
