If you are reading this post, it’s for one of two reasons. You are either a patient experiencing cancer pain, or you love someone who is.
In either case, understanding the relationship between cancer treatment and chronic pain is our first defense in truly understanding our bodies and how we can support ourselves and our families mentally and emotionally through this journey.
Myth #1 – The pain is always related to the cancer
This is a frequent mistake. Many cancer patients suffer from other conditions and other issues that have nothing to do with their cancer.
Myth #2 – The severity of pain is directly related to how bad the cancer is
How much pain you experience has nothing to do with how progressed the cancer is. Some patients experience more pain as time goes on, but they are afraid to say anything because they think it means they are getting sicker. This is false. There are a number of reasons why chronic pain can get worse, such as the treatment of cancer that can cause pain. Surgical pain, radiation and chemotherapy are difficult modalities that can cause chronic pain. In some instances, patients experience neuropathy long after their chemotherapy is over, and the cancer is gone.
Myth #3 – Cancer pain only affects the body
The truth is that cancer pain can coexist with anxiety, stress, depression, insomnia, lack of appetite, and other essential criteria that determine a person’s quality of life. At Aspire, a priority is for us to help manage the patient’s pain symptoms so that they may enjoy a meal, get a good night’s rest, and spend time with their family or friends doing an activity they enjoy. This is why it’s so important to have an open and honest channel of communication with the cancer patient and their family so that all concerns are known and dealt with head-on.
At Aspire Pain Relief Institute, we help cancer patients manage their pain so they can resume a higher quality of life and not be defined by their pain or their condition. For more information on our services, contact us today to learn more.