Cancer News

By Dr. Donna Schwontkowski

Who would have thought that someone healed from cancer would still have pain years later?

Ten years ago, Gerty was diagnosed with cancer of the lymph system. She received cancer treatment that included chemotherapy and had pain in her back ever since. She didn’t know what to do about it and told herself she was happy to be alive and went on through life, enduring the ‘cancer pain’.

Did you know that statistics report that 30-45% of people with a cancer diagnosis experience moderate to severe ‘cancer pain’? The incidence increases to 70 to 90% for those with advanced cancer. Studies show that even cancer survivors of 10 years or more are still suffering from ‘cancer pain’ including back and neck pain, just like what happened to Gerty.

What are the options for someone in such pain?

There’s always Vicodin. Gerty, like many others, was prescribed Vicodin that she used regularly. The problem was that as time went on, the pain really didn’t decrease much and she found herself dependent on it for the little pain control she received for the cancer pain. And even medical doctors report that the more prescription drugs a person takes, the lower the quality of a person’s life.

Until recently there have been few options for the relief of cancer pain. Although there are herbs and herbal combinations that have been created for building muscles, recovery from illnesses, eliminate infections, and stress relief herbs, the formulas on the market for natural pain relief made from herbs is limited to ones using predominantly arnica. However, arnica is not potent enough to relieve cancer pain.

One company took the problem to heart and started researching what really could be done to improve the quality of life of cancer patients. With a strong herbal research background, they knew that if they combined enough of the right herbs together in the right dosages, they could eventually assist people in the natural pain relief with herbs for cancer pain. Cancer fighting herbs take the form of herbs that boost the immune system, increase the body’s detoxification ability, support the body by providing nutrients; why not herbs that fought against cancer pain?

After much research, the scientists created a formula of 14 different herbs that resulted in cancer pain relief for those with mild to moderate pain. Some of those herbs include red sage, red peony, notoginseng root, white peony, cnidium and lotus node. The reasons why cancer pain is decreased becomes obvious when one reviews the actions of the natural herbs themselves.

Notoginseng helps control bleeding and reduces swelling and pain. Whenever any area of the body swells, there is pain because pressure and pain receptors send pain messages to the brain. That’s when we start to perceive the pain. For example, did you ever sprain your ankle? How much pain did you have from that injury? The swelling from the tissue damage contributes to the amount of pain you feel. In cancer patients, the pain can be from tissue damage as bones, muscles, and organs are destroyed by the cancer.

Red sage is used to treat abdominal pain and pain from stagnant blood. Red peony is a specific Chinese herb used for abdominal pain, rib pain, hernia, swelling and produces a tranquilizing effect. White peony is an herb that is specifically used by Chinese herbalists for pain in the chest, abdomen and ribs.

Cnidium is an interesting herb because it is known for its ability to control pain, improve blood circulation and promote the flow of life energy throughout the body. The herb contains the active ingredient ferulic acid which may contribute to its effectiveness in treating cancer pain. Cnidium has been used traditionally to treat headache, abdominal pain, and menstrual disorders.

The herbal gurus then found that not only did the combination of herbs help diminish cancer pain, but also it was quite effective for nerve pain, pain in the muscles and bones, migraine headache pain, stomach ache pain, and PMS pain. They ended up achieving their goal, that of natural pain relief using herbs, for pain.

If you are experiencing cancer pain or watching one of your loved ones experience pain, it’s good to know that now there is the possibility of relief from the world of all natural herbs.

Dr. Donna Schwontkowski is the author of Herbs of the Amazon and a master herbalist internationally known for her work. One of her goals is to make information on natural solutions for pain control available to cancer patients so that they do not have to suffer needlessly. Her website is http://www.drdonna.info More info on herbal solutions can be found at http://www.immuneenhance.com

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Therapy Pain   by Billy Fischer

Where traditional forms of medicine do not work alternative therapies are resorted to. When there is a combination or integrated medical system that is followed, how to blend both the alternative and the conventional needs expertise. Alternative therapies make available services which are not offered in conventional medicine. These treatments could involve homeopathy, new age healing, faith healing and naturopathy. Some diseases might warrant alternative methods of healing rather than the conventional and more and more people seem to be becoming aware of this.

Not only can alternative health therapies help you to improve the quality of your life and feel better, they can also help you to improve your overall general health in order to provide you with a sense of control. It relaxes you by reducing your anxiety, stress, depression, sleeplessness and tension. They reduce some of the side effects, which are normally noticed in the usual cancer treatments and also help in reducing some of the symptoms like poor appetite, tiredness, pain, sickness, diarrhea, constipation and breathlessness.

Alternative health therapies can be very effective at masking pain, which can sometimes hide a more serious underlying condition and are often used in conjunction with conventional medicine. Some cancer support groups for example, offer these therapies for free or make a small charge and some hospitals and hospices provide as part of cancer care, alongside conventional cancer treatments such as chemotherapy or radiotherapy. Many cancer patients to support themselves in their fight against cancer now use these therapies. These therapies are very valuable in that they identify and support spiritual and emotional characteristics and physical features, but they should not be used as the only alternative line of treatment.

More than billion is spent by the Americans annually on vitamins and herbs which are alternative health products. The recent studies that were conducted by Phillips, Tindle, Eisenberg and Davis, reflected that there was roughly seventy two million adults within the United States that use alternative and complementary therapies. The studies conducted by Herman, Craig and Caspi in 2005 also show an out of pocket spend of about billion annually on these therapies.

It is very essential to find out which treatments offered by alternative health therapies are more effective and at the same time making you feel much better and comfortable. The quality of life for many people has improved especially those who have Motor Neuron Disease. It is always advisable to check with your doctor before starting with any of the alternative health therapies and you should also remember to check whether any such treatment adapted would have adverse effect on any of the treatment programs which are already being undertaken.

In case you are thinking of using any alternative health therapy along with your contemporary medication then you must talk to you doctor and find about the pros and cons that are related. You could even find out from your physician if he is qualified to practice any of these therapies. Today doctors are more and more convinced that alternative therapy does have a place in the overall healing of a patient; this gives them the ability to maybe recommend alternative therapy practitioners. For some people, these types of therapies are helpful in coping with effects of conventional treatments, reducing anxiety and giving them back some control over their lives.

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ScienceDaily — A new study from the National Institutes of Health finds that massage therapy may have immediate benefits on pain and mood among patients with advanced cancer. The study appears in the September 16, 2008 issue of Annals of Internal Medicine.

In a randomized trial of 380 advanced cancer patients at 15 U.S. hospices, improvement in pain and mood immediately following treatment was greater with massage than with simple touch.

“When patients near the end of life, the goals of medical care change from trying to cure disease to making the patient as comfortable as possible,” said Jean S. Kutner, MD, MSPH, Associate Professor of Medicine, Division of General Internal Medicine at the University of Colorado Denver School of Medicine. “This study is important because it shows massage is a safe and effective way to provide immediate relief to patients with advanced cancer.”

Pain and depressed mood are common problems for patients with advanced cancer. While drug therapies can reduce symptoms, they don’t always work and often have troublesome side effects. Researchers think that massage may interrupt the cycle of distress, offering brief physical and psychological benefits. Physically, massage may decrease inflammation and edema, increase blood and lymphatic circulation, and relax muscle spasms. Psychologically, massage may promote relaxation, release endorphins, and create a positive experience that distracts temporarily from pain and depression.

Researchers caution that while massage may offer some immediate relief for patients with advanced cancer, the effects do not last over time, demonstrating the need for more effective strategies to manage pain at the end of life.

Adapted from materials provided by American College of Physicians, via EurekAlert!, a service of AAAS.

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Nervous System Changes

What they are and why they occur

Chemotherapy can cause damage to your nervous system. Many nervous system problems get better within a year of when you finish chemotherapy, but some may last the rest of your life. Symptoms may include:

• Tingling, burning, weakness, or numbness in your hands or feet
• Feeling colder than normal
• Pain when walking
• Weak, sore, tired, or achy muscles
• Being clumsy and losing your balance
• Trouble picking up objects or buttoning your clothes
• Shaking or trembling
• Hearing loss
• Stomach pain, such as constipation or heartburn
• Fatigue
• Confusion and memory problems
• Dizziness
• Depression

Ways to manage

• Let your doctor or nurse know right away if you notice any nervous system changes. It is important to treat these problems as soon as possible.
• Be careful when handling knives, scissors, and other sharp or dangerous objects.
• Avoid falling. Walk slowly, hold onto handrails when using the stairs, and put no-slip bath mats in your bathtub or shower. Make sure there are no area rugs or cords to trip over.
• Always wear sneakers, tennis shoes, or other footwear with rubber soles.
• Check the temperature of your bath water with a thermometer. This will keep you from getting burned by water that is too hot.
• Be extra careful to avoid burning or cutting yourself while cooking.
• Wear gloves when working in the garden, cooking, or washing dishes.
• Rest when you need to.
• Steady yourself when you walk by using a cane or other device.
• Talk to your doctor or nurse if you notice memory problems, feel confused, or are depressed.
• Ask your doctor for pain medicine if you need it.

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Relieving pain

• Try topical medications for pain. Rinse the mouth before applying the medication onto the gums or lining of the mouth. Wipe mouth and teeth gently with wet gauze dipped in saltwater to remove particles.
• Painkillers may provide relief when topical medications do not. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS, aspirin -type painkillers) should not be used by patients receiving chemotherapy because these patients have a bleeding risk.
• Capsaicin, the active ingredient in hot peppers, may be used to increase a person’s ability to tolerate pain. When capsaicin is put on inflamed tissues in the mouth, mucositis pain may decrease as the burning feeling from the capsaicin decreases. The side effects of capsaicin are not known.
• Zinc supplements taken during radiation therapy may help treat mucositis as well as dermatitis (inflammation of the skin).

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A new Perth study has found alternative therapies like acupuncture and massage significantly improve the well- being of cancer patients.

More than 500 patients in the study began using complementary treatments in addition to traditional medicine like chemotherapy and morphine over a 17-month period.
The researchers at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital found the therapies relieved physical symptoms such as nausea and pain, while improving the patient’s overall quality of life.

The director of the Cancer Support Centre, David Joske, says the treatments worked extremely well but more research needs to be done “to start to ask how can we get the best out of these two worlds which in the past really have been mutually exclusive in our society”.

He says he hopes the study gives greater credibility to the benefits of complementary medicine.

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