Pain Caused by Cancer

Coping With Pain Caused by Cancer

Before we even begin please be reassured that pain cause by cancer can be relieved. So, put your mind to rest. Modern medicine will not let you down.

Make no mistake about it, for most cancer patients; pain is a fact of life. That does not mean you have to suffer pure agony. That is why managing the pain is one of the primary areas of focus in cancer treatment. Pain, caused by cancer, can be amplified by a tumor pressing on nerves and organs, or from the side effects of strong treatment therapy. While most cancer patients experience some degree of pain, up to 30% of cancer patients must deal with severe pain. However, there is hope for all.

Healthcare professionals are taking an active stance in helping cancer patients cope more effectively with pain. In fact, coping with pain is one of the leading topics in medicine that transcends the full spectrum of illnesses. This includes traditional drug therapy to more attention on natural pain treatments. Experts in cancer treatment concur that it is important to manage the symptoms of pain in patients. Doctors say the pain is multi-dimensional which means that no two people experience cancer related pain the same way. It is such a subjective experience that doctors tend to define the pain as what their patients tell them they are feeling. If a patient has cancer it can be assumed that any pain in the body can be related to the disease.

Because pain involves not only the physical sensation and how one handles it, it also impacts emotions, behavior, and cognitive changes which all come into play.

Now that doctors are beginning to better understand that severe pain in cancer patients can also increase heart rate as well as interfering with the body’s immune system, it is extremely important to manage the pain so that it does not hinder the healing process. That was a wake-up call within the medical community. Proper assessment is a critical factor in determining the best ways to manage the pain.

As research continues for better forms of pain management, Morphine is usually the choice to treat severe pain in cancer patients. Science is exploring new medications and procedures that may work even better. For example, drugs normally associated with treating depression are finding new uses and respect for pain treatment. Methadone has been prescribed since the 1970’s to treat heroin addiction. Along with that comes a negative reputation. However, methadone is redeeming itself in the cancer pain management field. Methadone is especially good for neuropathic pain. It has less side effects that other strong opioids and is relatively inexpensive. However methadone has a long half life (the time it takes to work its way out of the body) which explains why it can accumulate in the body. So it can only be used for short periods of time. Patients who switch to methadone from another drug are eased into the treatment over a few days.

Cancer Pain—Common concerns about pain treatment

Nearly anyone with cancer is concerned about pain, pain medications and other treatments. Here are some of the most common questions and answers.

Common Concerns:

1. Can I take pain medication or other treatments when I actually have pain?

Answer: You should not wait until the pain becomes severe to take your medicine. Pain is easier to control when it is mild that when it becomes severe. You should only take your pain medicine regularly as your doctor has instructed. You can also use other forms of pain therapy such as breathing exercises, relaxation techniques, hot packs and other treatment instructed by your nurse or doctor.

2. Will I become addicted to my pain medication?

Answer: Studies show that getting “hooked” or “addicted” to pain medication for cancer pain is very rare. So remember that it is important to take your pain medication exactly as prescribed on a regular basis to keep the pain under control.

3. Will my pain medication stop working if I take it over a long period of time?

Answer: The medicine will not stop working. Your body can become tolerant of the medicine. That means the body gets used to it. The good news is that for cancer patients this is not usually a problem because the amount of medicine can be adjusted or other medicines can be added. Cancer pain can be relieved so don’t get yourself worked up thinking your medicine will quit working and you will be left to suffer.

Other Cancer Pain Coping Strategies:

Drugs that were created for other uses are now being used for cancer pain treatment. Anti-depressant medications like Amitriptyline are now being used to treat clinical depression in cancer patients. There are special drugs used to treat seizures that are working in cancer pain management. Classes of drugs used to ease other types of severe pain are now entering the field of cancer pain management. And, as we mentioned different combination of drugs are successfully being use together to ease specific pain symptoms.

MorphiDex: a combination of morphine and dextromethorphan can deliver faster relief and fewer side effects than morphine by itself.

Radiofrequency Lesioning: a catheter is inserted though a small incision. Then heat is delivered directly to the pain system destroying the affected nerves.

OFTC: This is a drug –infused lollipop that patients suck on to receive immediate pain relief.

Capsaicin: It’s a topical cream that comes from red chili pepper (brand name Zoztrix) is effective to counter neuropathic pain such as burning pain, and tingly pain caused by nerve damage. It is also finding other uses in the pain management field.

Vertebroplast: It is what it sounds like. Cement is injected into the fractured vertebrae to ease pain and provide spinal support.

Deep Brain Stimulation: Used only to tread intractable pain that doesn’t respond to any other treatment, the patient controls electronic stimulation sent to the brain through implanted electrode brain implants. A magnet, controlled by the patient produces pain relief through a special generator implanted in the upper chest.

Research: It is highly likely, as fast as medicine is making progress on this subject of pain management for cancer patients, that by the time you are reading this article, medical science has discovered the next new breakthrough in cancer pain management.

More Ways to Cope with Cancer Related Pain

Here are some rules patients can follow when using pain medications:

  • Stick to your regular pain medication schedule. Get help if you can’t remember when to take your medicine.
  • Talk to your care givers about your pain symptoms. They need your feedback.
  • If you are having side effects talk to your doctor. The symptoms such as nausea and constipation can be managed.
  • Understand that addiction is not a problem for most patients. Stop worrying about it.
  • While tolerance to pain medication can develop this does not prevent sufficient pain control now or later on with other treatments.
  • As you are being treated for pain you are not going to get high or lose control.

How do I know when to call the doctor?

  • When new pain develops
  • If the intensity of pain changes
  • If you have nausea for more than one day
  • No bowel movements for three days or more
  • Should feel over-sedated or have trouble waking up from sleep
  • You feel disoriented or confused

Don’t rule out complementary therapies such as:

  • Prayer
  • Meditation
  • Hypnosis
  • Relaxation techniques

Deal with your demons:
Don’t let these mental devils keep you from getting the help you need.

  • Fear of the unknown---Trust your doctor.
  • Listening too much to others. No two cases are the same. Negative friends
    and relatives are not going to help you feel better.
  • Expecting that you must endure severe pain. If you will follow the rules
    established by your doctors, you can cope with and mange the pain.
  • A belief that because you have cancer you will die before your time. Everyday, the quality-of-life and longevity is being improved. Become a cancer survivor
  • You are afraid that the side effects will be worse than the disease. Side effects can also be controlled and managed.

The To Do List

  • Follow the doctors orders
  • Take your meds regularly
  • Advise your doctor when anything changes
  • Ask lots of questions
  • Try to stay positive
  • Seek both medial and natural solutions
  • Determine you will win.
  • Never stop studying and learning
  • Live each day to the fullest that you possibly can

In summary, while cancer can cause bodily pain, it can be managed. The exact treatment for you or a loved one is going to be a work in progress between you, your doctor and nurses. With the amount of information now on the internet you can stay informed and tap into the brightest minds and most current pain management strategies in the world. Don’t be bashful about sharing with your doctor what you have learned. He or she may not have the time to study options to the degree that you are able to do behind your computer. That does not make you an MD, but it can empower your healing process.

For more help or understanding how to cope with cancer pain contact the University of Texas, MD Anderson Cancer Center at 1515 Holcombe Blvd, Houston, TX, 77030. 1-800-392-1611 or visit them on the internet at www.mdanderson.org.

 

 

 

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