When background music is playing softly, it's possible to forget the music is continually playing. When it’s blaring, the music never fades into the background, and it’s intrusive all the time.
You have a serious problem when your cancer-related symptoms are like blaring background music. Your pain or quality-of-life issues make life miserable every minute of every day.
Here's a partial list of issues that cause unending misery in the life of someone with cancer:
- Chronic, ever-present pain
- Fatigue
- Hot flashes
- Bladder or bowel issues
- Sleeplessness
- Nausea or vomiting
- Poor or no appetite
- Debilitating weakness
There are two types of relief to seek in the face of unending misery. The first is physical relief, and the second is psychological relief.
The three crucial physical issues to address are:
According to the Mayo Clinic, pain relief for cancer patients is possible. Pain relief does not necessarily mean you are pain-free. It means your pain may move from intolerable to tolerable. Make sure to discuss pain management with your physician. Ask for a referral if your pain goes unrelieved.
