The Management of Chronic Pain for Patient with Breast Cancer

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Running head: MANAGEMENT OF BREAST CANCER

 

 

 

 

The Management of Chronic Pain for a Patient with Breast Cancer

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Abstract

While many of us hardly notice life as it comes by, the number of individuals diagnosed with breast cancer is getting higher by the minute. Now cancer brings pain. With pain being a sensation which is uncomfortable, people look for interventions so as to alleviate this awkward feeling. This research aims to cite the different modes of management in chronic pain, specifically the use of Herceptin. The researcher hopes that the outcome of this study will help readers obtain more knowledge about taking care of a patient who has breast cancer.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Breast Cancer: The Silent Slayer

            Many papers have been written about breast cancer. But what is it really? A simple definition is this: an uninhibited progression of malignant breast tissue. Due to predisposing factors and the utter disregard of people in accordance to health, breast cancer is the fifth leading cause of death worldwide. “Yet every year 41,000 new cases of breast cancer alone are diagnosed.” (Hall, 2005) Cancer patients may possibly deal with pain for various reasons – tumor growth, during a late stage of the illness, or a side effect of treatment. Speaking about pain, here’s just a brief nice-to-know. Pain has two types (according to duration and onset) namely: acute and chronic. Acute pain is experienced immediately after an abrupt injury or sickness. Physical signs include an increase in the heart rate and respiratory rate, elevated blood pressure, dilated pupils, and sweating. On the other hand, chronic pain is a discomfort that lasts long which is wearying for both the caregiver and the client. It may recur at times with an increasing degree of intensity and added signs and symptoms. Clients refer to it as unbearable, immobilizing, or isolating. With these terms in mind, who would go off track as the researcher delves more into the concept of breast cancer?

Pathway of Pain

Why feel pain in the first place? Well, one should be thankful because the receptors in the skin are intact and doing their work! Imagine if a person has none of these so-called pain receptors. Love drinking coffee, right? The sweet-smelling aroma of it just makes you crave for more and more. Coffee plus sugar (if you like), pour HOT water, then stir a

 

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little. Because of the absence of the pain receptors, one nastily scalds his tongue upon drinking the said concoction. Poor taste buds, they can never savor any flavor again! But if there were pain receptors, ouch. That must really hurt. So you see now the importance of those receptors. Here now comes one of the many theories with regard to pain: the Pain Gate Theory.  Proposed by Melzack and Wall, this theory was put forward in 1965. Pain is a sensation perceived by the body as foreign and abnormal because that would indicate there is something wrong. The theory suggests that one can block or close the feeling the feeling of pain. The spinal cord is the one that picks up the signal which came from the nerve/pain receptors in the skin. The spinal cord then sends these signals to the brain for it to interpret. The brain now deciphers which reaction it will appropriately provide. Now, go back to the hot coffee that hurt the drinker’s tongue. ‘”Hurt” being the operational word here. Hurt, which is synonymous to pain. Add them up. The circumstance plus the Pain Gate Theory. Wasn’t that easy?

Psychological Aspect of Pain

Different types of people have different ways of reacting to pain. Some can tolerate it at a high level, while some can’t even stand the idea of pain. In line with the Pain Gate Theory, the psychological side is that it is all in the mind. Cliché as it may sound, but true. The mind has the power to tell the body anything.  As the researcher indicated above, pain can be blocked or stopped. Yes, and it is through the mind. First, you must acknowledge the pain. Make friends with it. Then once you get to know it, you can gradually tell it to either be lessened, or totally stopped so as to keep the gate closed.

 

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Through practice, patience, and acceptance, you’ll get to manage pain in no time. You should also relax and tell yourself not to panic when pain comes. You can think up of ways to divert your mind and pay attention to other stuff like watching your favorite game show, or listening to the music of your favorite artist. Through that, pain already subsides, doesn’t it?

Assessment of Chronic Pain

If a client is experiencing chronic pain, the process of assessment and planning out of his interventions should be thorough and specific so that he will be able to participate well in it for the optimum goal of returning to his normal condition prior to his illness state. The client himself must first recognize that the pain is really there to facilitate your working together as a team with the purpose of reducing or managing the pain. The caregiver can also create a care plan in order for him to be guided with his activities or interventions for his client. This is also a way to evaluate himself if he achieved his goals for that day and if he had done quality nursing care.