Immobilising structures which cause pain when moved Interrupting the "pain pathway" to the brain Elevating the "pain threshold" in various ways Prescribing analgesic and co-analgesic medication Shrinking tumour deposits to relieve pain It should come as no surprise that one approach to reducing pain caused by progressively enlarging deposits of cancer is to make those deposits smaller. This can be done by surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, hormone therapy or various other methods. The choice of method used should be made in consultation with the appropriate specialist. More than one method is usually helpful, and different methods are often recommended at different times in the course of the illness. Reducing the local effects of tumour deposits Some of the local effects of tumour deposits can be reduced in fairly simple ways. For example, if a tumour breaks through the skin to cause an ulcerated growth, it will be much more comfortable if it is kept clean and covered with a suitable dressing, and if any infection occurring within and around it is treated appropriately. Special dressings which absorb unpleasant odours may be very helpful in some cases. On other occasions, the best treatment for the local effects of a tumour deposit may involve more complex interventions. For example, if a hollow organ, such as the intestine or a bile duct, becomes obstructed by a tumour deposit, the severe colic which results from the body's attempts to force a way through the obstruction may be completely relieved by bypassing the obstruction. This can sometimes be done simply by passing a tube (called a "stent") through the obstructed region at endoscopy, but sometimes a surgical operation is required.
Immobilising structures which cause pain when moved Interrupting the "pain pathway" to the brain Elevating the "pain threshold" in various ways Prescribing analgesic and co-analgesic medication Shrinking tumour deposits to relieve pain It should come as no surprise that one approach to reducing pain caused by progressively enlarging deposits of cancer is to make those deposits smaller. This can be done by surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, hormone therapy or various other methods. The choice of method used should be made in consultation with the appropriate specialist. More than one method is usually helpful, and different methods are often recommended at different times in the course of the illness. Reducing the local effects of tumour deposits Some of the local effects of tumour deposits can be reduced in fairly simple ways. For example, if a tumour breaks through the skin to cause an ulcerated growth, it will be much more comfortable if it is kept clean and covered with a suitable dressing, and if any infection occurring within and around it is treated appropriately. Special dressings which absorb unpleasant odours may be very helpful in some cases. On other occasions, the best treatment for the local effects of a tumour deposit may involve more complex interventions. For example, if a hollow organ, such as the intestine or a bile duct, becomes obstructed by a tumour deposit, the severe colic which results from the body's attempts to force a way through the obstruction may be completely relieved by bypassing the obstruction. This can sometimes be done simply by passing a tube (called a "stent") through the obstructed region at endoscopy, but sometimes a surgical operation is required.
How_Cancer_Pain_is_Treated_(EDITABLE_VERSION).docx