Survivorship Issues

Opioids are effective for the treatment of acute pain, such as pain following surgery. They have also been found to be important in palliative care (hospice) to help with the severe, chronic, disabling pain that may occur in some terminal conditions such as cancer. In many cases opioids are successful long-term care strategies for those with chronic cancer pain (CCP). There are not many alternatives for those with CCP like there are for those suffering acute or chronic non cancer pain (CNCP). In one study, conducted by Furlan et al. (2006), opioids were effective in the treatment of CNCP overall; they reduced pain and improved functional outcomes better than placebo. Strong opioids (oxycodone and morphine) were significantly superior, to naproxen and nortriptyline (respectively) for pain relief but not for functional outcomes. Unfortunately, Weak opioids (propoxyphene, tramadol and codeine) did not significantly outperform NSAIDs or TCAs for either pain relief or functional outcomes. Overall, if opioids are

Within the article, “Pain Intensity and Pain Interference in Patients With Lung Cancer”, the researchers use a combination of surveys, questionnaires, and lab results to conduct their research. All of the tools are given at a certain time, taken within a certain time

Identification of pain has been the most feared and common symptom of cancer (Sloan, et al. 1999). The joint project that includes primary, secondary and tertiary levels of care were successful in breaking down the barriers that crossed traditional boundaries in cancer care. Steering committee member were identified and meetings took place between multi-professional teams and project coordinators to identify their issues and concerns and communication, discharge, pain management and symptom control were identified. Multidisciplinary groups worked were

In this study, I believe the independent variables are the stage of illness of the patient, spiritual well-being, and gender. The dependent variable fatigue during the cancer treatment. In the setting and subject description, the selection criteria had inclusion, and exclusion criteria. Within the inclusion criteria, every one of the participants had to be 18, or older, and have active cancer related treatment with a cancer diagnosis with either a palliative or curative intent, willing to participate in the study. The criteria that was excluded were those individuals whom had completed the cancer treatment those whom only received treatment only palliative care.

Pain, which is defined in its widest sense as an emotion which is the opposite of pleasure (White, 2004, p.455), is one of the major symptoms of cancer, affecting a majority of sufferers at some point during their condition (De Conno & Caraceni, 1996, p.8). The World Health Organization (WHO, 2009, online) suggests that relief from pain may be achieved in more than 90 percent of patients;

I realized that I myself have not dealt with a patient who has just found out about a diagnosis of a specific cancer. It was hard to identify with his patient personally in an emotional/physical way. Since I had not dealt with this previously, I tried to put myself in her shoes and to realize and take into consideration everything she was saying. I asked her what it feels like within her body and what her pain characteristics were. She stated “aching and constant pain all over” as an example of how she herself would describe her pain. I also wanted to change any stimuli that may have been a trigger. I decreased the stimulation by closing the blinds, lights, turning the volume down of the TV, helping the patient back to bed, and closing the door (which the patient agreed to and verbalized it was helpful).

The concept of managing acute pain is extremely significant to nursing as pain is one of the most common problems for which patients seek out health care resources. Pain is a complex and abstract concept that encompasses sensory, emotional, psychological, social, and spiritual perceptions of pain that may occur in combination with physical pain. Pain is difficult to describe and often hard to measure; although, most healthcare providers agree that pain is subjective and is to be measured qualitatively and quantitatively as the patient perceives its intensity. Pain can affect the quality of life of the individual by impacting them physically, emotionally, and

Some survivors have been known to struggle with negative emotional problems after their cancer. Others, including myself, have recreated themselves and have a more positive outlook on life and the struggles that we face. Each patient’s post experiences and treatment is different. The most common side effect after your cancer treatment, for all ages is fatigue or a persistent feeling of mental or physical tiredness. Studies that have been done on survivors of childhood cancer have shown that at least sixty percent of young adults develop chronic health problems. However, childhood cancer survivors can have exposure to a little more serious late side effects. Such as, heart problems, blood vessel problems, lung problems, bone problems, slow bone growth and the most common, memory problems. But generally, late effects are a consequence of their treatment type and it’s

Assess for pain given the rate of metastasize cancer could affect many organ and become

There are chances, when patients do not want to get the above mentioned therapies done. This can happen when a patient feels that the side effects are more than the benefits. In such cases a doctor recommends comfort care that includes the treatment of the symptoms only, that caused by the cancer, like shortness of breath or pain.

The International Association for the study of Pain (IASP, 2012) define neuropathic pain as a complex type of pain in the nervous system caused or initiated by its primary lesion or dysfunction. Taverner (2014) has described it as “pain without purpose” because it serves no useful signalling role and does not have any beneficial effect. There is a further definition provided by the IASP neuropathic pain special group of interest: “Pain arising as a direct consequence of a lesion or disease affecting the somatosensory system” (IASP, 2010) (p.7). Many cancer disease states are related to neuropathic pain and it is often difficult to treat. Furthermore the negative impact

Cancer is a common health problem frequently associated with pain and is an important illness condition for studying patient satisfaction. The incidence of patients with cancer is on the rise both nationally and worldwide with projected global numbers for 2030 at 21.4 million new cases and 13.2 million deaths per year (Boyle, 2008). Pain is a major symptom in 40-50% of newly diagnosed patients

You chose a very interesting topic. The Ochsner Journal did a research study on pain management in elders back in the Fall of 2010 and there were numerous cases were elderly persons have chronic pain and are either not treated or undertreated. “Between 25% and 40% of older cancer patients studied had daily pain. Among these patients, 21% who were between 65 and 74 years of age received no pain medication; of patients who were 75 to 84 years old, 26% received no pain medication; and for those above the age of 84, 30% were left untreated” (Alan D. Kaye, Amir Baluch, & Jared T. Scott, 2010). This study found that persistent pain is indeed not just because of aging, but more so a common factor of being elderly and not having the proper treatment

More than 33% of tumor patients encounter some sort of agony at a moderate or extreme level (Reeves, 2008). "Torment is a noteworthy wellspring of tension and trouble, and maybe the most weakening manifestation that is dreaded the most by growth patients toward the end of life, and requiring master palliative consideration (Creedon and O 'Regan, 2010, p. 257)." Not just do numerous end of life patients experience moderate to extreme agony, yet they can encounter variances in their torment and leap forward torment also.

The 116 studies of meta-analysis found that the mind-body therapies could suppress anxiety, depression, and mood swings in cases of cancer patients, and aid their coping skills. The Western medicine has made great strides in treating many kinds of cancer. The powerful new drugs have been developed that kill cancer cells and surgical techniques have been refined, making it possible to cut out many types of cancer. As a result, many of the people are surviving cancer. On the contrary, while Western medicine had many successes in handling cancer itself, it does not focus on the person. By concentrating solely on the disease, it tends to miss the human beings involved. Modern medicine does not attempt to support people through the painful