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Mesothelioma Cancer Online
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Most cancer pain medications have some side effects, and generally, most side effects will occur in the few first few hours of treatment and then will gradually disappear, although they may affect different people in different ways and at different levels. The doctor may choose to switch a patient's pain medication to make sure the patient gets maximum pain control with a minimum of side effects if side effects persist. Cancer pain is most often treated with opioid medications. Some of the most common side effects of these drugs are nausea and vomiting. Normally, these side effects occur a day or two after first taking a particular medicine. Be sure to tell your doctor so that something can be prescribed to help if you experience these side effects. When first taking opioids, some patients may feel drowsy or sleepy. For most patients, this side effect will disappear in a day or two. Another side effect is constipation, the best way to prevent constipation is to drink plenty of fluids such as water or juice, and to eat more fruits (uncooked, skin on) and vegetables as well as whole grain breads and cereals. Adding 1 to 2 tablespoons of unprocessed bran to your food may also help. Exercise to the extent you are able also prevents constipation. Your doctor may prescribe a stool softener or laxative if you still have a problem. However, more serious side effects are rare. Call your doctor immediately if you have experience dizziness, trouble breathing, or a rash.
Cancer pain medications may be administered in a variety of ways. Following are the most common:
Oral. The medicine is taken by mouth in a capsule, pill, or liquid form. Transdermal Patch. A bandage-like patch is placed on the skin, continually releasing medicine through the skin over a 2-3 day period. Injection. Injections may be administered in one of the following ways: Intravenous (IV) injection : cancer medicine is placed directly into a vein through a needle. Subcutaneous (SC) injection : cancer medicine is placed just under the skin using a small needle. Intrathecal and epidural injections : cancer medicine is placed into the fluid around the spinal cord (intrathecal) or into the space around the spinal cord (epidural). The cancer patient can help control the amount of cancer pain medication taken. When pain relief is needed, a computerized pump connected to a tube in the patient's body is activated by the patient pushing a button. This allows a preset dose of pain medication to be delivered. There is almost always another one that can be tried if one cancer medication or delivery method does not work for you. Speak with your doctor about the pain medicine or method that works best for you. You may need a different cancer pain medicine or combination of medicines if: - You have undesirable side effects. - Your pain medicine does not start working in the time specified by your doctor. - Your pain is not relieved. - Your pain interferes with your normal activities. - You have breakthrough pain. - Your cancer pain medicine does not work for the length of time specified by your doctor. |