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Breaking Through: Procedures That Relieve Cancer Pain
Published: Apr 25, 2024
For some cancer patients, procedures offer relief when other treatments fall short. Let's dive into the options that can help manage pain effectively.
Nerve Blocks: Interrupting Pain Signals
Nerve blocks involve injecting medication around nerves to interrupt pain signals. This can provide significant relief for certain types of cancer pain, especially when oral medications aren't enough.
Radiation Therapy: More Than Cancer Treatment
While radiation therapy targets cancer cells, it can also shrink tumors that press on nerves or bones, alleviating pain. It's a dual-purpose tool in cancer management.
Intrathecal Pump: Delivering Relief Directly
An intrathecal pump delivers medication directly to the spinal fluid, providing high pain relief with lower drug doses. It's considered for severe, difficult-to-manage pain.
Frequently Asked Questions
It's a procedure to stop pain signals by injecting medication around nerves.
Yes, it can shrink tumors causing pain.
It delivers pain relief directly into the spinal fluid.
They're used when medication alone isn't enough.
Key Takeaways
Procedures can significantly enhance cancer pain management when other methods are insufficient.
References
- Davies AN. Breakthrough cancer pain. Curr Pain Headache Rep 2014; 18:420.
- Narayana A, Katz N, Shillington AC, et al. National Breakthrough Pain Study: prevalence, characteristics, and associations with health outcomes. Pain 2015; 156:252.
This article has been reviewed for accuracy by one of the licensed medical doctors working for Doctronic. Always discuss health information with your healthcare provider.
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