You Don’t Have to Suffer

Pain and cancer often go hand-in-hand. Unfortunately, for different reasons, pain is often poorly controlled, causing many cancer patients to experience it unnecessarily. Studies have shown that as many as 35 to 45 percent of cancer patients experience moderate to severe pain at some point in their illness. As many as 90 percent of those with advanced cancer experience severe pain. The good news is that if the right drug is prescribed, at the right dose, at the right time, 80 to 90 percent of cancer pain can be relieved.

If it’s not necessary to suffer, why is cancer pain so often poorly controlled? Here are some of the reasons:

• Cultural values and norms can contribute to a patient’s willingness to report pain. For example, in some cultures, stoicism is a valued trait. Cancer patients may opt to “be brave” rather than complain of discomfort.
• Patients and their families often fear addiction to pain medications.
• Many providers are not well educated in effective pain management.
• Providers may not adequately assess the level of pain.

Here are some of the most commonly asked questions and answers regarding the control of cancer pain:

Q. Will I become addicted to narcotics if I take them for too long?

A. No. If your doctor has prescribed a narcotic for the relief of cancer pain, the chance of becoming addicted is extremely small. Very few cancer patients become addicted to narcotics. However, if you have been taking narcotics for a long period of time, your family or friends may begin to bring up the subject of addiction. Remember that these people are expressing their concern out of love for you, but also remember that they generally do not have an understanding of cancer pain control. Don’t let these inquiries derail your pain control program.

Q. Do I have to take my pain medication on schedule, even if I do not have serious pain?

A. Yes. If you are in some pain all of the time, you should be on a regular schedule of medication. The best way to control your pain is to prevent it from starting or getting worse. Different medications take different amounts of time to begin to act on your body. Some relieve pain immediately, others take a much longer time to act. If you do not follow your schedule, your pain may get much worse before the medicine begins to work, and it will be harder to get the pain under control. Also, if you wait to take your medication until your pain is severe, you may end up taking more than you would have if you had followed your schedule.

Q. My medication is giving me a rash on my trunk and arm. Is this normal?

A. No. If you are experiencing a rash, shortness of breath or wheezing, you are probably experiencing an allergic reaction to your medication, and you should call your doctor right away. You should also notify your doctor if you are experiencing side effects such as nausea, dizziness, drowsiness, constipation, or headache. He or she may be able to make adjustments to your current dosage, change your medication, or give you strategies for reducing these side effects.

Q. My mother is a stoic woman who often refuses to take her pain medication. She appears to be in quite a bit of pain. Can this have a negative effect on her recovery?

A. Yes. Untreated pain can have some negative effects on your mother’s condition. It can restrict her movement, making walking or performing activities of daily living difficult for her. It can also alter levels of brain chemicals that may make it harder to treat her pain in the future. Also, untreated pain is often associated with depression, and despair. Maintaining effective pain control is important for cancer recovery and management. You may want to consult a pain control specialist who can talk to your mother and educate her about the need for pain control.

Q. Is there anything I can do to relieve my pain that is not medication-related?

A. Yes. Many people find that they can control or lessen their pain using a number of non-medicinal strategies. Strategies such as relaxation, biofeedback, imagery, and distraction can often be helpful. Others find that massage, cold/heat, acupuncture or hypnosis can also work. Talk to your doctor to discuss these methods, or ask him or her to refer you to practitioners who could provide you with some of these services.

For more information about cancer and pain control, visit the Web at http://www.cancer.gov/.

Different medications are used for different types of cancer.

Related Articles

TrackBack

TrackBack URL for this entry:
http://blog.healthra.com/cancer/you-dont-have-to-suffer.htm/trackback
Listed below are links to weblogs that reference "You Don’t Have to Suffer".