Cancer Pain
Having Cancer pain does not necessarily mean Suffering. Whatever the cancer stage is, at least suffering can be minimized. Cancer pain can be presented in many ways:- Dull aching, sharp, or may be constant. How much pain one feels depends on the type of cancer, Recurrence, Spread, Site, treatment taken & of course patient’s pain tolerance. Above everything else, one should always keep in mind that MOST CANCER PAIN IS MANAGEABLE & controlling pain is essential to the treatment.
Here are some reasons for not receiving adequate cancer pain control:
- Reluctance Of Patient To Talk About Their Pain With Their Physicians & Vice-Versa.
- Fear Of Addiction
- Fear Of Side Effects.
- Cancer pain can be acute or chronic or breakthrough.
- Few facts about Cancer Pain in India:
- 10 Lakh New Cancer Patients Are Diagnosed Every Year In India.
- 60% Are Diagnosed In the Advanced Stage, So Require Only Pain Management And Palliative Care.
- 30%-50% Have Pain At The Time Of Diagnosis.
- 70% To 90% Have Severe Pain When The Disease Is Advanced.
- 40% Die With Severe Pain.
- 60%-80%Complains Of Inadequate Pain Relief By Their Physician.
- 30% Are Not Relieved By Drug Treatment Alone, So Require Interventional Pain Management.
- More Than 90% of Cancer Pain Can Be Adequately Controlled
Cancer pain treatment:
Foremost for the cancer pain treatment is to formulate a Pain control Plan & Stick to it.
1. Medical treatment
- Oral Medications – Opioids / Non-Opioids
- Oral Morphine Therapy
- Fentanyl Patches
- Nerve Blocks
- Intrathecal Pumps
- Radiation
Surgery, Sometimes
2. Non-medical treatment
- Psychological And Lifestyle Counselling
- Acupuncture
- Biofeedback
- Hypnosis
- Category: Conditions We Treat
