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Pain Management for Cancer Patients
by Andrea Kenningsworth
http://www.lucancer.com
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.
That is now a big misconception, that having cancer will
automatically mean a great deal of pain in the treatment.
People frequently feel they just have to learn to deal with
it. With today's pain management techniques, this has
become a complete fallacy. No-one needs to adjust to pain
any longer. If a patient is open and communicative about
the pain they are experiencing, his pain management team
will be able to find relief for the patient. There are a
number of ways to manage pain, and the patient needs to
let the experts decide which steps to take to alleviate it.
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 not be considered a luxury; it
should be considered a part of the entire process of
treating cancer patients. Dealing with pain can actually
hinder healing, so your doctor will want to be informed
about any pain or discomfort as soon as it hits. It should
not be introduced only once the pain becomes completely
unbearable. It is very important to keep your doctor
informed about the pain, because the method of pain
management may change over time, as pain lessens or grows.
One should not be over or undertreated for pain.
Once medication is prescribed that will address the pain,
don't feel as though you should have to be 'brave' and hold
off as long as possible between doses. Your doctor has
prescribed what he or she believes will be the appropriate
source of relief, and postponing your doses can cause the
pain to become more intense or, in some cases, encourage
you to increase the dosage in order to compensate for the
greater level of discomfort. The members of your medical
team will discuss the importance of taking the medication
when you're supposed to, and what the dosage should be.
Controlling the pain is easier when it begins than it is
after it intensifies.
The reason many patients resist the idea of pain medication
is that the are concerned that they will become addicted or
immune to the medication, or that there will be the side
effects. If these concern you, you should consult your
doctor. He will assure you that, as long as you follow the
program and are monitored, there should be no concerns.
For more information about pain management, contact the
American Cancer Society or the National Cancer Institute.
Medical professionals are always on hand to assist you with
questions and concerns about all facets of the disease,
including the management of pain.
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