Cancer, one of the most important health problems of our age, continues to increase all over the world. Depending on the cancer, pain can occur in different parts of the body. So what are the solutions to these pains? Anesthesiology and Reanimation Prof. Dr. Serbulent Gökhan Beyaz gave important information about the subject.
Cancer pain is the most common symptom at the time of diagnosis of cancer and its frequency is increasing regardless of cancer treatment. In cancer patients, especially in advanced stages, the pain is estimated to be over 80%. Even if the patients are completely cured with treatment, pain can be encountered at a rate of 30%. According to new information, pain can be seen at a rate of 59% in pancreatic cancers and approximately 64% in head and neck cancers among those who continue cancer treatment. Different types of pain and pain syndromes can be seen in all stages of cancer. A 2014 study found that one-third of patients did not receive appropriate pain treatment for their pain. In our country, this situation is much more than in developed countries, we have cancer patients who cannot receive pain treatment.
Cancer is one of the most important health problems of both the present and the future. According to Globocan data, more than 2020 million people have been reported to have cancer in 15. Pain should be re-evaluated during treatment follow-up. Pain character, severity and degree of pain, response to pain treatment, capacity to do daily work, quality of life of daily living activities should be asked and it is recommended to spend time with the patient's family. The patient should describe the severity of the pain himself, its severity should be evaluated with special scales and recorded and followed up.
Priority pain management should be preferred as oral medications. Drug treatment is regulated by adhering to the recommendations of WHO (World Health Organization). Additional medications can be given to red prescription drugs called opioids, if necessary. These drug groups must be regulated under the control of an Anesthesia and Reanimation physician or an algology physician who deals with pain. If pain cannot be adequately controlled with drug treatments or if drug side effects cannot be tolerated adequately, interventional pain methods come to the fore. Examples of these methods are the administration of drugs (spinal-epidural port-catheter, morphine pump, radiofrequency methods, cordotomy, etc.) by inserting a catheter into the spinal cord or its adjacent space, or cementing the fractured vertebrae (vertebroplasty/kyphoplasty).
Interventional methods and oral drug treatments should be applied and followed by Anesthesia and Reanimation physicians or algology physicians who deal with pain. Unwarranted fears and concerns of patients and their relatives, such as fear of being addicted or that the drug will not work, should be eliminated. Our patients do not need to suffer unnecessarily due to cancer pain. Whenever our patients are told 'there is nothing to do for your pain', they should know that there is always something to do.
Finally, there is no need to suffer from cancer pain. Keep in mind that there is definitely a cure for your pain. Please consult your relevant branch physician.
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