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Often in cancer, cure and palliative care are often one. Controlling the growth of cancer cells is needed to control pain. Often the pain caused by cancerous tu
by sharmi 9y ago
Often in cancer, cure and palliative care are often one. Controlling the growth of cancer cells is needed to control pain. Often the pain caused by cancerous tumours cannot be suppressed by usual pain killers.
The kind of medication given for cancer treatment has vastly improved in the last 10 years, atleast for the less aggressive forms of cancer (and yes, there is such a thing). As a corollary, there are also highly aggressive forms, the kind that sends chills into your heart.
- kruhft 9y agoAny particular reason 'usual pain kiilers' don't work?
- epmaybe 9y agoI believe that the usual pain killers are things like ibuprofen and acetaminophen (paracetamol for you non-US folks). Cancer pain is this deep chronic pain that we can't really reduce with those standard pain killers. It's just a variety of factors that are not adequately treated by what is essentially an anti-inflammatory. For more info check out this review article on cancer pain physiology: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4616725/ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4616725/ So the alternatives for patients are putting them on drugs like opioids, gabapentin, and even cannabinoids.
- kruhft 9y agoThanks for explaining. I wasn't sure which pain killers you were talking about. Cannaboids are highly effective at pain relief. I"m glad they're being legalized soon here.
- mirimir 9y agoI gather that you exclude opiates from "usual pain killers". That seems odd. For someone dying of cancer, what's the problem being addicted to opiates? Also, an old-school "peaceful death" option is alcohol + morphine + cocaine. The patient dies without pain, and happy. And their family and friends get closure.