Cancer Pain Management Objectives: • You will be able to verbalize what causes your pain. • You will be able to know different ways to control your pain. • You will be able to know how to score your pain and use a pain journal.
Pain is not a normal part of having cancer. It can either be treated, controlled or relieved. People with cancer can do their normal day-to-day activities when pain is controlled adequately. – American Cancer Society
What are the different types of pain? Acute Pain Severe pain that lasts for a short time. Usually a sign of injury and lessens as the body heals (American Cancer Society, 2015).
Chronic Pain Mild to severe constant pain that last longer than three months. May disrupt your ability to perform day-to-day activities. Chronic pain does not go away but can be controlled (American Cancer Society, 2015).
Breakthrough Pain A flare of pain felt even when chronic pain is controlled with medications. It usually comes from the same area of the chronic pain. May be caused be caused by certain activities or may come without any clear cause (American Cancer Society, 2015).
What causes pain in cancer patients? Factors affecting cancer pain •
Type of cancer
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Stage the cancer is in
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Your pain tolerance
Pain caused by the cancer itself •
Pain may come from the tumor pressing against bone, organs, or nerves.
Pain caused by cancer treatment •
Surgical wounds
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Nerve pain
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Mouth sores
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Radiation Injuries
What can be done to control pain? Medications
Complementary and Alternative Medicine
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Non-Opioid pain medications
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Acupuncture
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Opioid pain medications
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Biofeedback
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Nerve Blocks
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Distraction
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Spinal analgesics
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Hypnosis
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Guided Imagery
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Breathing exercises
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Massage
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Accu-pressure
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Vibrations
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Hot/Cold packs
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Electrical stimulation
Other Medical Treatments •
Surgery to sever nerves causing pain
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Radiation, chemo or hormone therapy may be used to shrink tumor to relieve pressure on other organs.
Tools to keep track of your pain? Pain Scale You can use a pain scale to keep track of how much pain you are in throughout the day.
Pain Journal You can use a pain journal to keep track of how much pain you are in throughout the day, when it happened, what you were doing while it happened, how long the pain lasted and what did you do to relieve the pain. This is a good way to make sure that your pain is controlled and an easy way for your healthcare team to change your treatment regimen to achieve the best pain control possible.
Reference: American Cancer Society Staff (2016). Managing Cancer Pain. Retrieved from http://www.cancer.org/treatment/treatmentsandsideeffects/physicalsideeffects/pain/pain-landing Singh, P., & Chaturvedi, A. (2015). Complementary and Alternative Medicine in Cancer Pain Management: A systematic Review. Indian Journal of Palliative Care 21(1), pp 105-115. doi: 10.4103/0973-1075.150202.