Cancer Awareness: The Facts About Pain Management

By: Andrea Kenningsworth

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.

It's important to recognize that pain management is part of the overall process for treating cancer patients. This isn't a luxury, or something that's introduced only when the pain becomes completely intolerable. A good doctor will want to be informed about any pain or discomfort, from the moment that it's experienced. As time goes on, medications and/or other pain management approaches may need to be changed, so it's critical that you keep the lines of communication open in order to receive the relief that you need.

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.

If your concern is that you'll become addicted or immune to the pain medication, or that the side effects will cause you to change your behavior and lose control of yourself, speak with your doctor. This isn't the case, and those who work closely with your pain management know exactly what's necessary without risking other areas of your health.

The American Cancer Society or the National Cancer Institute have the best information about pain management. They have a team on hand of medical professionals who will be happy to assist you with any questions or concerns about Cancer Care.