Mesothelioma Patients: Managing Pain

Causes of Pain
Very often the mesothelioma patients suffer more from the pain than the disease itself that affects the patients as well as family members who are agonized. This physical pain which can be controlled with medication is caused mainly by the tumor which puts pressure on body organs like bone and nerves. The treatment of the disease may itself become the source of the pain. Traditional treatments like surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy all cause pain. Reduced immunity due to prolonged treatment by these methods only aggravates the discomfort of the pain. The mesothelioma patients may be suffering from other ailments like arthritis, etc. that contributes to the pain. If the pain is not reduced, the patient suffers stress and depression and so it must be managed with appropriate medication with minimal side effects.

Types of Pain
When the pain in mesothelioma patients is quick and intense but duration of the pain is short, it is called acute pain. Any pain mild or severe associated with the cancer that is persistent with time is chronic pain. Chronic pains that can be controlled by medication are known as breakthrough pain.

Management by Medication
Cause and type of mesothelioma pain determines medicines and methods to be used for controlling it. For pain of mild to moderate nature, Nonopioids category of drugs is usually effective. This group of drugs which include aspirin, ibuprofen and acetaminophen are sold on retail without prescription. However those mesothelioma patients on chemotherapy should consult their physicians before taking these drugs. Narcotics or opioids group of drugs are effective for moderate to severe pain. This group includes drugs like morphine, codeine, methadone, etc. These medicines are not sold without prescription and can be used in combination with Nonopioids drugs. Short-acting Opioids can also be taken for breakthrough pain by mesothelioma patients. These drugs include oral morphine that alleviates pain with their quick release.