Page 26, October 2016, Tell Them You Saw It In The Mt. Olive News • Like us on facebook www.facebook.com/mypaperonline
Treating pain associated with cancer
P
ain is not always a side effect of cancer, but many people do experience pain while battling this potentially deadly disease. People who have
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been diagnosed with cancer should know that they don’t have to accept pain as a normal part of their disease, and there are plenty of options at their disposal to alleviate their pain. According to the American Cancer Society, all pain can be treated, and most of it can be controlled or relieved. How physicians treat pain will depend on the type of pain and its cause, but the following are some options doctors may discuss with their patients who are experiencing pain. Medication: The type of medication doctors prescribe will depend on a host of factors, including the level of pain their patients are dealing with. Non-opioids like acetaminophen, aspiring or ibuprofen may be used to treat mild to moderate pain, though patients who are having surgery or receiving chemotherapy may need to steer clear of non-steroidal, anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like aspirin and ibuprofen because
they can slow blood clotting. Opioids, which include oxycodone and morphine, may be prescribed for moderate to severe pain. Pain caused by swelling or pressure may be treated by prescription steroids, such as prednisone and dexamethasone. Surgery: The ACS notes that surgery may be an option to reduce pain associated with cancer. Nerve pathways carry pain impulses to the brain, but when these impulses are interrupted, they never make it to the brain and the feelings of pain and pressure cannot be felt. To block these pathways, neurosurgeons may cut nerves, but such surgery is irreversible, so cancer patients should expect their physicians and surgeons to explore other avenues before recommending surgery. Epidural: An epidural is a method of pain relief in which medicine is injected into the space around the layers of the spine. Doctors may implant a pump so they can get pain medicines right around the nerves, and the
Cancer screenings men should consider
ancer screenings play an important role in cancer prevention. Screenings may not prevent people from getting cancer, but they can detect the presence of cancer before a person begins to experience any signs or symptoms. Screenings also can help doctors catch cancer before it metastasizes, or spreads, to areas of the body outside the area where it originated. Many women get routine mammograms to detect for breast cancer, but women are not the only ones who should include cancer screenings in their healthcare routines. Men also can benefit from screenings, discussing the pros and cons of each with their physicians during routine health examinations. Colon cancer: Men should begin getting screened for colon cancer at age 50, though those with family histories of colon cancer or other colon issues should begin even earlier, as family history increases a man’s risk of developing colon cancer. Colon cancer screenings may discover a type of growth known as a polyp,
which is typically benign and can be removed before it develops into cancer. The American Cancer Society notes that men have various options to choose from with regard to screening for colon cancer. Such options include a colonoscopy, a stool DNA test and a camera pill. Speak to your physician about these options and discuss your family history, which will influence how frequently you need to be screened for colon cancer. Lung cancer: Screening for lung cancer is most important for men who currently or recently smoked. The United States Preventive Services Task Force recommends annual screening for lung cancer with low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) for men between the ages of 55 and 80 who have a 30 pack-year smoking history and currently smoke or have quit within the past 15 years. Screening should be discontinued once a man has not smoked for 15 years or has developed
a health problem that substantially limits a man’s life expectancy or his ability or willingness to undergo curative lung surgery. (Note: Pack-year history is calculated by multiplying
treated area may experience numbness or weakness as a result. Nerve block: Another way to treat pain associated with cancer is via a nerve block, a procedure in which a local anesthetic is injected into or around a nerve. If doctors do not choose that option, the anesthetic, which is often combined with a steroid, may be injected into the space around the spinal cord to block pain. While the injection makes it impossible for the nerve to relay pain to the brain, the nerve block may cause muscle paralysis or a loss of all feeling in the affected area. Managing pain associated with cancer can be difficult, but patients dealing with such pain can discuss the many pain treatment options at their disposal with their physicians.
the number of packs of cigarettes smoked per day by the number of years the person has smoked.) The ACS notes that the risks associated with lung cancer screenings typically outweigh the benefits for men who have never smoked or quit long ago. Prostate cancer: The National Cancer Institute notes that prostate cancer is the most common nonskin cancer among men in the United States. Being 50 years of age, black and/or having a brother, son or father who had prostate cancer increase a man’s risk of developing the disease. The NCI notes that screening tests for prostate cancer, which include a digital rectal exam and a prostate-specific antigen test, come with risks, and men should discuss these risks and the potential benefits of prostate cancer screenings before deciding to be screened. Cancer screenings can detect cancer in its earliest stages, and as men get older, they should discuss their screening options with their physicians.