Did you know that as many as 30 to 50% of cancer patients undergoing treatment experience pain? Plus, for the patients in advanced stages of cancer, 70 to 90% experience pain as result of the cancer. Why should patients put up with this pain when treatments and other solutions exist? An exploration of the cancer patient's options may bring surprisingly wonderful relief.
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.
However, while cancer patients should not be experiencing pain, surveys of cancer patients conclude that pain is not treated aggressively enough for many patients. There are several factors for this. First, patients may not be accurately reporting their pain and prefer to "suffer in silence" rather than be perceived as complaining about their condition. Some doctors may be more focused on treating the cancer than about asking the patient about pain and aggressively pursuing it. A third factor is that both doctors and patients may be uneasy about prescribing or taking powerful painkillers like morphine, which may be addictive.
Painkillers aren't the only treatment options to successfully end cancer pain. Some non-drug alternatives involve therapies. Many therapies coupled with painkillers work effectively too. These include biofeedback, acupuncture, massage and hypnosis. Many cancerous tumors are removable by surgery or shrunk with radiation therapies. Radiation therapy is employed to relieve pain when a tumor impinges on nerves and organs.
Managing pain is always more preferable to the reactive approach. In managing pain, the medication is taken on a regular schedule, such as every eight or twelve hours, and maintains a fixed dosage. If breakthrough pain does occur while on a management plan, the dosage can be increased. However, if the patient waits for a severe attack and then takes medicine in a reactive manner, the pain is much harder to overcome. Thus, the best time to start a pain management plan is once you discover the cancer. At this stage, you have more time to find the right painkiller treatment for you.
This is a complicated disease; so don't be surprised if your pain treatment must adjust as your cancer changes. You may have to play with different solutions before finding the right combination for your pain. Don't think that you should feel "out of it" to be pain-free; if you experience this, discuss this with your doctor and change your pain treatment.
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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