There is no single approach to pain management that fits everyone, which is why your care team will consider your medical history, allergies and drug interactions when selecting an effective therapy solution for you.
Numerous complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) therapies have been demonstrated to successfully alleviate cancer-related discomfort. Some CAM therapies such as massage are passive while others require active participation such as biofeedback or hypnosis.
Acupuncture
Acupuncture involves inserting thin needles into specific points on the skin. These points trigger nerves and spinal cord cells to send signals to the brain that release chemicals like endorphins that alter or block pain signals – helping patients feel better both physically and emotionally while decreasing nausea and vomiting common side effects of chemotherapy treatments.
Acupuncture may not be right for everyone. It could pose serious risks to those with pacemakers or chronic skin conditions. Furthermore, needle insertion could cause minor bleeding or bruising at its points of entry – so before considering this therapy it’s essential that you speak to your physician first to ensure its safety for you as well as whether your insurance covers its cost.
If you are considering alternative therapies as a means of pain management, be sure to first speak to your cancer doctor or specialist nurse. They can offer guidance and referrals towards suitable practitioners as well as verify if any alternative therapy will be safe for use by you.
Hypnosis and acupuncture have both been demonstrated to effectively decrease pain; yoga, mindfulness meditation, and massage therapy remain under investigation; some studies suggest they may help with cancer-related pain relief; however, others have not. All forms of complementary therapies deserve further investigation; as the more we learn about them the better care we will be able to give our patients.
Massage
Massage is a therapeutic technique in which soft tissues of the body are massaged or otherwise stimulated to induce relaxation, alleviate pain, reduce stress and enhance circulation. Practitioners claim massage increases lymph flow (protein-rich fluid that travels throughout your body via lymph vessels to collect bacteria, viruses and waste for filtering by lymph nodes) which has numerous health benefits including improving sleep patterns and alleviating anxiety.
Studies show that massage may be effective at relieving muscle tension and anxiety, which in turn could relieve pain. Unfortunately, not all research is conclusive; patients should always inform their physician prior to receiving one and should avoid massaging areas with radiation scars or tumors.
Patients living with cancer should avoid massage that induces poor blood circulation or bleeding disorders on the skin, and should refrain from receiving massage near surgical incision sites or mastectomy incisions.
Nurses are perfectly placed to identify and recommend complementary therapies for cancer pain management, educate their patients on their safety and efficacy, and refer them to appropriate resources. But nurses must remain mindful of various issues, such as lack of evidence that some therapies alleviate pain effectively or their potential drug interactions; the authors of this article propose an educational program which alerts patients, their families and nurses about evidence-based complementary therapies for cancer pain control.
Aromatherapy
Aromatherapy involves the use of essential oils (compounds derived from plants) as an approach to improving health and wellbeing. Aromatherapy may serve as an adjunctive cancer therapy treatment option; studies show it to be useful in relieving symptoms such as stress, anxiety, nausea, vomiting and pain relief as well as fatigue reduction. Patients should discuss complementary therapies with their healthcare provider prior to engaging in any alternative medicine practices.
Essential oils can be inhaled directly through inhalation or absorption through the skin, and their potency may lead to irritation if used directly on skin or hair. Therapists will typically dilute them with other oils before administering. They can use diffusers or directly apply them onto patients for scent release; soothing music may also help facilitate relaxation.
One aromatherapy study examined the impact of two distinct scents, lemon and lavender, on people experiencing stress. Lavender proved more successful at improving mood while lemon did not have any significant effects on stress indicators or biochemical markers of immune system changes; this trial involved adults living with cancer.
Other complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) approaches for managing cancer pain include relaxation, yoga and massage therapy. These techniques may be combined with conventional therapies, including acupuncture, to control symptoms. Many patients living with cancer use these practices to enhance their quality of life while managing side effects from cancer treatment and its treatments. Although most conventional therapies undergo rigorous clinical trials for safety and effectiveness before being implemented into routine care plans, very little research has been conducted into CAM techniques compared to their counterparts.
Occupational therapy
Occupational therapy is an integral component of oncology rehabilitation. This type of therapy assists individuals in managing symptoms associated with cancer such as pain and fatigue while helping them reintegrate back into daily routines. Furthermore, occupational therapy may foster positive attitudes toward life while finding ways to cope with emotional responses.
Many adults living with cancer report reductions in their functional capacity, particularly for activities of daily living (ADLs). This may be caused by both chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatments as well as disease itself; such impairments can significantly lower quality of life (QOL).
Common symptoms associated with peripheral neuropathy, cognitive changes, and fatigue. Oncology occupational therapy begins with a functional assessment. This step allows the therapist to pinpoint which issues are impacting daily function and identify how these can be remedied.
Peripheral neuropathy is a side effect of chemotherapy treatment that may manifest itself through weakness, numbness and tingling in the extremities. While this condition may reduce quality of life significantly, treatment solutions exist; your therapist can use medication and exercise therapy approaches to enhance it and increase quality of life.
Fatigue can be an unpleasant side effect of cancer treatment for women patients, particularly. This form of fatigue differs from ordinary fatigue in that it does not respond to rest or sleep; occupational therapy can assist by teaching energy conservation techniques and offering emotional support.
Psychotherapy
Psychological treatments such as cognitive behavioral therapy and mindfulness-based stress reduction can assist patients in learning how to cope with pain. Furthermore, these techniques may decrease levels of threat that trigger the fight or flight response – not that pain doesn’t exist, just that a patient’s thoughts, emotions and stress levels play a part in how they experience it.
Psychological interventions may be added to other treatments for pain management and improvement of function. They can help patients learn how to cope with discomfort while increasing function; sometimes even decreasing opioid medication use. They are used in various settings including community health centers, cancer treatment clinics and home-based programs.
Researchers have demonstrated that psychological and behavioral therapies can effectively alleviate cancer patients’ discomfort during diagnosis, treatment and long-term survivorship. Unfortunately, however, communication about pain may still be challenging due to factors such as fear of disease progression/recurrence/wanting to appear strong/not distract from oncologist provider and concerns over side effects from medication.
Some therapists specialize in palliative care while others offer integrative therapy that incorporates complementary therapies like acupuncture and support groups. Before trying alternative therapies, it’s essential to do your research and seek more information before making decisions based on unsubstantiated claims made about them by one individual based on his/her own story; falsehoods could cause people to bypass cancer treatments that would have helped them.
Desensitisation
Pain is a frequent side effect of cancer treatment. It may range from mild to severe and last for either short periods (acute) or more than three months (chronic). It’s essential that pain be managed, as it negatively impacts quality of life and may interfere with other therapies.
Hypersensitivity occurs when an injured or surgically treated area remains oversensitive to pain signals even after healing has taken place. While it can be frustrating, desensitization techniques may help lessen its impact.
Desensitisation involves repeatedly exposing sensitive body parts to stimuli such as touch, cold, heat and pressure in order to retrain their brains to respond less strongly to them. You can do this at home using a “texture kit”, such as silk wool cord denim felt or other items – or have your physiotherapist perform these techniques on them for you.
Animal models have demonstrated successful analgesic results when combined with chemical defunctionalisation of capsaicin-expressing sensory afferents through blocking TRPV1, along with silencing them chemically. Unfortunately, translating this success from laboratory to clinic remains challenging.
Before beginning complementary therapies, consult with your doctor or nurse first. Some therapies may not be compatible with cancer medications and some could interfere with pain medications. It’s also important to inform your therapist of your diagnosis; their approach may need to change accordingly.
