What causes pain symptoms in cancer patients?
A: Some of the factors that cause pain symptoms in cancer patients are from the cancer itself, some are from the cancer treatment process itself, and some are caused by other factors such as arthritis that is not related to the cancer.
Is there a way to feel better?
A: Yes. First, you have to avoid activities that can make your pain worse. Second, you can try to relax, for example, you can do relaxation exercises or meditation.
If the pain flares up, it is important to keep a record of the symptoms and how they were managed at the time. This way, your doctor can use the information in your records to treat the pain symptoms and get better. Information that is generally recorded includes the dose of medication you are taking, how much the pain symptoms have decreased and how long the pain has lasted. When describing pain symptoms, you can rate them on a scale of 1 to 10 – with 1 being almost no pain and 10 being unbearable pain.
Pain Scoring
When do I need to call a doctor or nurse?
A: A doctor or nurse can be called if
Change in the nature or location of the pain
New onset of pain
Chronic pain that gets worse or does not improve with treatment
Which medication is effective for cancer pain?
A: Doctors often treat cancer pain with a drug called an “opioid. Opioids are sometimes referred to as “narcotics. These drugs include morphine (also known as mescaline), hydrocodone (also known as oxycontin), and fentanyl (also known as Doregis).
Generally opioids have 2 modes of action.
1. Slow onset of action but with long efficacy (several hours after taking the drug). These drugs are made as oral extended-release tablets or skin patches.
2. Fast-acting and short-acting drugs are used to treat sudden onset or worsening of pain. These drugs are made as oral immediate-release tablets, solutions, agents that dissolve quickly on the tongue, and aerosols that can be passed through the mouth or nose.
Doctors usually prescribe two types of opioids to treat patients with cancer pain. Most patients take an opioid extended-release agent daily to prevent pain. If the pain flares up while you are just taking an opioid extended-release, you can take an opioid immediate-release medication to control the pain.
Depending on your symptoms and other comorbidities, your doctor may also prescribe some other types of medications to treat the pain. In most cases, people use other medications in combination with opioid medications, including
Acetaminophen (trade name: Tylenol) or a group of drugs called “nonsteroids” – nonsteroids include ibuprofen (also known as Edelweiss, Motrin) and naproxen (also known as analgesic).
Medications commonly used for other conditions and some medications for other problems can also help treat certain types of cancer pain. Examples include steroids, antidepressants, and medications for bone problems. These medications are often used in combination with opioids to treat patients with cancer pain.
Are there any other pain medications I should know about?
A: You should be aware of.
It’s important to take opioid extended-release medications as prescribed, even if you don’t feel pain. And the goal of treatment is to control your pain, not to treat it when it flares up. If you don’t feel pain it means the pain medication is working.
You need to let your doctor or nurse know if the medication you are taking is helping with the pain, or if it will last long at this dose. Depending on the situation, your doctor may increase your dose, take the medicine more often, or prescribe a different medicine.
Opioids have side effects. Common side effects include constipation, drowsiness, and nausea. Let your doctor or nurse know that you are having side effects. That way, he or she can treat your side effects or change your medication.
You need to keep your opioid medications safe in case they are stolen. Someone may steal opioids and sell them to make illegal money.
You can’t become addicted to opioids. When patients take higher and higher doses to treat pain, there is often a fear of addiction, but this is not the case. This may be because the condition requires it or because there is a high “tolerance” to the drug, when a higher dose is needed. Tolerance is when the body adapts to the drug, so it doesn’t work as well as it used to. Tolerance is not the same as addiction.
Are there other ways to treat pain?
A: Yes. If medication is not enough to relieve the pain, talk to your doctor or nurse about other treatment options. Depending on the symptoms and the cause of the pain, he or she may recommend a program. This may include medication injections into the painful area, or destruction of the nerves that are causing the pain.
He or she may also recommend that you use a physical therapist, a mental health professional or a non-traditional medicine specialist. Non-traditional medicine includes treatments such as acupuncture and massage.
Specialties: Coronary interventions, cardiac electrophysiology and radiofrequency ablation, pacemaker and ICD implantation, right heart catheterization, interventions for pulmonary arteriovenous disease, and interventions for peripheral arteriovenous disease. He has extensive clinical experience in the treatment of coronary artery disease, arrhythmia, hypertension, heart failure, dyslipidemia, heart valve disease, congenital heart disease, pulmonary embolism, syncope, and other diseases.