Pain management and blood cancer

communityreply@lls.org — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 15:41:43 GMT

This last month the U.S. House of Representatives passed the National Pain Care Policy Act of 2008 (HR 2994). One aspect is that this legislation authorizes an Institute of Medicine Conference on Pain, with one purpose being an increased awareness of pain as a major health issue in the United States. Additionally it allows that a Pain Consortium be created at the National Institutes of Health, so that more government attention and resources are given to the issue of pain.

Blood cancer patients can appreciate the efforts behind this act. For some patients pain can be a part of the journey, either because of the cancer itself or the treatment for it. Here are a few important reminders if you or someone you know is experiencing pain:

Pain can be managed, and it should not be ignored.
When you first start to experience pain, make sure you talk to your doctor now instead of waiting; early treatment can be more effective than when it is more severe.
Discuss how your pain treatment is working for you with your doctor. Communication is key in making sure that you’re receiving the most effective treatment for your pain.
Keep track of what makes your pain feel better or worse over several days or weeks in a diary or notebook, and bring it with you when you go to the doctor. Knowing the history of your pain can help your doctor better manage your pain. Using a daily pain diary or pain notebook, such as the American Pain Foundation’s TARGET Chronic Pain Notebook to track your pain over several days or weeks may help you identify what makes it better or worse, whether certain medications or non-drug therapies are effective in controlling your pain, as well as how your pain episodes impact your daily activities and emotional well-being.

Read more about pain management facts and tips on www.LLS.org, or take a look at our newly updated fact sheet on this important topic for blood cancer patients.

Have questions that you can’t seem to find the answers to? Contact the Information Resource Center online, or speak directly with a specialist who can assist or point you in the right direction at (800) 955-4572.

Are you a patient that has experienced pain in relation to your blood cancer? Do you have tips you can share for communicating with doctors, family members or friends about your pain?

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Blog

Pain management and blood cancer