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Patients with terminal cancer often have to endure both physical and emotional pain. Chronic pain that is left untreated can have serious consequences on a patient's health and quality of life.1. What is pain in cancer?
Cancer pain is pain that occurs for a short time (acute pain) or lasts for a certain period of time (chronic pain) due to the compression or metastasis of a tumor to other organs. other of the body. In addition, the treatment methods (radiation, chemotherapy, surgery) and diagnostic process; Changes in the body due to hormonal imbalances and immune responses can also be the main cause of pain in cancer.
The pain of cancer patients can appear continuously, sometimes suddenly increasing in intensity, causing a sharp pain; or intermittent pain. The pain sometimes also flashes, flares; This is called breakthrough pain and requires immediate use of pain relievers to control the pain.
People with cancer often experience severe pain, which causes discomfort and pain. However, up to 95% of cancer pain can be successfully treated. Untreated pain can make other aspects of cancer worse. Includes:
Fatigue Body weakness Shortness of breath Nausea Constipation Sleep disorders Depression Anxiety, restlessness Mental disorders
Sự đau đớn của bệnh nhân ung thư có thể xuất hiện liên tục
2. Causes of pain in cancer
Cancer pain can come from the tumor itself, cancer treatments, or causes unrelated to cancer.
Pain due to tumor: When the tumor infiltrates into the tissues, it can cause inflammation, infection, making the patient feel pain. The tumor can affect the circulatory system, or cause deep vein thrombosis when it presses on a vein; causes swelling and pain in the calves. In addition, parts of the nervous system such as the brain, spinal cord, nerves, plexa, or ganglia can also suffer serious damage when the tumor presses on or invades.
Pain from surgery: Usually, cancer patients after surgery are likely to experience pain. However, most pain goes away on its own after a while. But there are some cases where the pain persists for months or years. Cancer patients' pain can be caused by permanently damaged nerves or the growth of scar tissue.
Pain from radiation therapy: Pain may develop after radiation therapy and resolve on its own. It can also grow to certain other parts of the body, such as the chest, breasts, or spinal cord, months or years after radiation therapy.
Pain from chemotherapy: Some chemotherapy can cause pain and numbness in fingers or toes, called peripheral neuropathy. Usually this pain goes away when treatment ends.
Other causes: People with cancer can still have pain from other causes. These include migraines, arthritis or chronic low back pain. These types of pain are not part of the cancer treatment plan, because any type of pain reduces the patient's quality of life.
Sự chèn ép của khối u ung thư khiến bệnh nhân càng đau đớn
3. Diagnosis of pain in cancer
Cancer patients are those who suffer the pain caused by cancer and no one can understand that pain as well as themselves. Therefore, people who have cancer and are living with pain every day should see a doctor or health care professional to receive advice as well as help patients find treatments and control their symptoms. pain in cancer effectively. From there, helping patients improve their quality of life and comfortably enjoy their last moments with their loved ones.
Your doctor can help you choose a pain reliever or other pain reliever that is right for your condition. To diagnose cancer pain, your doctor may ask you for the following information:
Where do you have pain? When does the pain start and stop? How long have you been in pain? How do you feel the pain?
4. Cancer pain treatment
In order for cancer patients to feel comfortable and achieve the best quality of life in the last days of life, pain management in cancer is recommended by doctors. Possible approaches to pain management include the use of analgesics, destruction or stimulation of pain pathways, recommendation for the patient to adopt a reasonable lifestyle, psychological support, social connection, and treatment. spirituality for the patient. In addition, other pain relief methods can be applied such as meditation, breathing exercises, walking, yoga, or other ways to help distract the patient's mind from the pain.
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Reference source: Cancer.net
