First EFIC® Symposium Societal Impact of Pain - SIP

32
Ana Casas
Dr. Ana Casas MD, PhD
Head Area Medical Oncology
University Hospital
Virgen del Rocío Sevilla. Spain
PAIN IN ONCOLOGY
Pain is a frequent symptom in cancer patients.
It may be due to the illness itself or to
treatment. For many patients, pain is the most
feared consequence of cancer. Unrelieved
pain causes unnecessary suffering that
can become psychologically devastating.
Nevertheless frequently cancer patients do not
express their pain adequately for fear that their
doctor's attention will be drawn to the
symptom instead of focusing on the treatment
of the illness itself. It is very important for
patients to know that healthcare professionals
are ready to help them in all aspects, both
physical and spiritual, providing comprehensive
care for their condition that is a global
treatment approach to the disease.
While pain ranges between 30-90% of cancer
patients, thanks to the treatment currently
available, cancer pain can be controlled in 95%
of cases. Nowadays there is a wide range of
treatments and techniques available for the
control of cancer pain. They ensure that
something more can always be done to control
cancer pain, as intense as it may be. However,
many people are frightened of taking opioids
for fear of becoming "addicts". It is necessary
to convince them of the importance of using
the appropriate drug when pain appears and
not when the situation has become completely
unbearable, overcoming the fear that the drug
will not take effect in future due to prolonged
use.
Despite the available treatment, there are
still barriers that cause cancer pain to be
underestimated and undertreated. There are
numerous obstacles that have to be eliminated
in order to treat pain as adequately as possible
of which the following are the most important:
Professional knowledge: improving the
knowledge of healthcare professionals and to
recognize the importance of the appropriate
treatment of all the symptoms that accompany
cancer. Professionals must have access
to permanent updates regarding both
pharmacological knowledge and analgesic
management skills.
Lack of communication by patients: the fear of
the patient to communicate pain intensity due
to the belief that this may distract the doctor's
attention and that the presence of pain
means approaching death can difficult the
communication of pain.
Fear of becoming an addict. It is necessary to
stress that there is no risk of addiction if
opioids are used correctly for pain relief.
Fear of side effects. Some patients argue they
will lose control, fall asleep, be "drugged up" and
be unable to communicate socially or become
dependent on the medication.