Cancer Pain

Cancer pain; It may occur due to reasons such as destruction of normal tissues due to cancer, circulatory disorders due to blockage in blood vessels, bone fractures due to metastases, infection, inflammation, tumor pressure on nerves, blockage of hollow organs or various channels, as well as surgery, chemotherapy. These are some pains that occur in the body due to cancer treatment methods such as radiotherapy.

What is cancer pain?

Cancer pain; It may occur due to reasons such as destruction of normal tissues due to cancer, circulatory disorders due to blockage in blood vessels, bone fractures due to metastases, infection, inflammation, tumor pressure on nerves, blockage of hollow organs or various channels, as well as surgery, chemotherapy. These are some pains that occur in the body due to cancer treatment methods such as radiotherapy. 20-50% of cancer patients experience pain at initial presentation, 30-40% during treatment, and 75-90% in advanced stages and in the final stages; For patients and their relatives, pain is a greater source of fear than even death itself.

What are the symptoms of cancer pain?

Pain may occur in different parts of the body due to cancer. Chronic cancer pain, which is the most common one, can be a constant pain that affects the person’s entire quality of life, or it can be a sudden onset of short-term severe pain despite taking painkillers. Depending on the source of the patient’s pain, the type, severity and duration of pain may vary.

How is cancer pain treated?

First, drug treatment is given to relieve cancer pain. Medication; In accordance with the system called step treatment by the World Health Organization, it is determined from weak to strong depending on the condition of the pain. In cases where drug treatment is insufficient or ineffective, non-drug treatment methods are also used. In this case, nerve blocks can be applied, in which the nerves causing pain are desensitized with various chemicals. If nerve blocks are not successful in reducing the pain, a morphine pump may be inserted into the spinal cord. Accordingly, a catheter is placed in the spinal cord, a pump filled with medication is placed under the skin, and the pump and catheter are combined. A completely closed system is created under the skin and the patient’s pain is controlled by giving a very low dose of morphine through this pump.