Pain management in advanced stage cancer

1
www.dsresearchcentre.com
2
Pain management in advanced stage cancer
Pain is a symptom most feared about in any
disease so also cancer. But not all cancer
patients will have pain. Pain in cancer takes
many forms like dull, achy, sharp or burning
pain. It can be continuous or intermittent pain.
It can be mild, moderate and severe pain. It can
be acute or chronic pain. Thus pain management is
an essential part of cancer treatment. Pain in
cancer advances as the tumor grows into the
tissue or destroys nearby tissues or compresses
nerves. The treatment options for pain management
depends on the intensity of pain.
3
1. Anti inflammatory medicines
(NSAID) These medicines are used for managing
mild pain and pain due to inflammation. Excess
use of these might lead to stomach upset,
heartburn, indigestion. They can be given in the
form of oral tablets and injections. 2.
Steroids These are used to handle moderate pain
and pain due to swelling. They can be given in
the form of oral tablets, injections and topical
applications. 3. Opioid drugs These
are used for severe pain. They are also called
narcotic drugs which are long acting and short
acting. They are in the form of oral tablets and
skin patches. If oral tablets are taken in high
dose or for prolonged time it might lead to
addiction and sudden stoppage might lead to
withdrawal symptoms. Skin patches are bandage
like patches which slowly and steadily releases
the medicine thus has prolonged and sustained
action. 4. Nerve block
procedures These procedures are for temporary
pain relief wherein a pain killer medicine is
injected around or into a nerve or spinal cord or
epidural to block the pain signals sent to the
brain.
4
5. Integrative therapies External
therapies like massage, application of pain
killer medicines, acupuncture, relaxation
therapies, meditation, hypnotherapy will be
helpful in reducing pain. 6.
Surgery Surgical intervention is used to remove
blockages or tumor pressing on nerves or any
organs and thus relieves pain. 7.
Radiation therapy In this therapy high doses of
radiation is used to kill cancer cells and shrink
the pain causing tumor especially in bone and
brain. 8. Chemotherapy In this treatment
anti tumor medicines are injected in the vein or
given in the form of tablets to reduce the size
of tumor in soft tissues and organs by which
intensity of pain reduces. 9.
Antidepressant and anticonvulsant drugs These
drugs act as pain relievers especially in
neuropathic pain like burning, tingling and
numbness.
5
Thus with the help of a health care provider pain
in advanced cancer can be managed by properly
assessing the intensity of pain and planning the
treatment to enable better quality of life for
cancer patients. Strategical use of pain
management methods in advanced stage of cancer
helps the patients cope with the pain physically
and emotionally and thus enable them to continue
their fight against cancer.
6
THANK YOU
For Further information Call us at 8130594141 or
visit https//dsresearchcentre.com/