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Pain Management for Cancer Patients
The announcement that you or a loved one has cancer creates
a frightening and complex situation. Besides the usual
fears is the concern that the patient will suffering a lot
of pain during treatment. You want to make sure that this
pain can be properly managed so that you or the loved one
does not suffer unduly. Pain management becomes a very
important part of the entire treatment of a cancer patient.
Luckily, there are many different approaches to pain
management, and there are now medical specialists who can
help determine the most effective in each case.
One of the biggest misconceptions about having cancer is
that there's going to be pain, and you'll just have to
learn to cope with it on some level. This is a complete
fallacy, no,one has to simply adjust to pain, and you're
entitled to relief, once it presents itself. Although
there are a number of ways to manage it, those who are
willing to communicate with their medical team regarding
pain and its intensity will assist them in taking whatever
steps are necessary to aid you in functioning as normally
as possible.
Most doctors are very sensitive to the pain and discomfort
of their patients, but if you should express the need for
pain control and your doctor doesn't have any options to
suggest, then request to meet with someone who specializes
in the area of pain management. This may be an oncologist
,a doctor whose specialty is the treatment of cancer, an
anesthesiologist, a doctor who specializes in pain
management during surgery, a neurologist, a doctor whose
area of specialization encompasses the nervous system, and
a neurosurgeon, a doctor who specializes in performing
surgery on the entire nervous system, including the spine
and brain.
Pain management should be considered part of the entire
process of treating cancer patients. It should not be
considered a luxury. Neither should it only be introduced
when pain becomes completely unbearable. Dealing with pain
can actually hinder treatment, so your doctor will want to
be informed about any pain or discomfort as soon as it
The method of pain management may change over time, as the
pain lessens or increases, so it is very important to keep
your doctor informed about the pain. One should not be over
treated in this area, nor should one be under treated.
Once a pain management technique has been identified, the
patient should follow it closely. The patient should not
try to "tough it out" by holding out and lengthening times
between doses. The doctor or pain management team has
prescribed what they believe to be the appropriate course
of treatment for relief, so postponing doses will throw off
this program. In many cases, this so called bravery only
forces people to increase the dosage to compensate for the
greater level of pain. Let the members of your medical
team decide the proper dosage to control pain from the very
beginning. Gradually increasing or decreasing treatment is
the concept behind pain management.
Many patients are concerned that they will become addicted
or immune to the medication, so they resist the idea of
pain medication. Another reason is that they fear side
effects. You should consult your doctor if these concern
you. As long as you follow the program and are monitored,
he will assure you that there should be no concerns.
The best information about pain management is available at
American Cancer Society or the National Cancer Institute.
They always have a team of medical professionals to assist
you with any of these questions and concerns as well any
other areas of Cancer Care.
Andrea Kenningsworth operates the website
Lu Cancerwhich
is a one-stop information center for all the latest
resources and articles related to cancer. Please visit
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