A new book written by some of the nation’s leading pain management experts is offering a step-by-step guide for people to live well after a cancer diagnosis.
The Cancer Pain Book, which includes an accompanying app, covers information on understanding and managing pain, drawing on the latest research on both conventional medicine and complementary therapies to help people live better without reliance on drugs such as opioid medications.
Authors of the book, published by health, aged and dementia care provider HammondCare, include leading Palliative Medicine physician Professor Melanie Lovell (pictured with cancer survivor Cassandra Bennett); conjoint Professor in Pain Medicine at the University of Sydney Philip Siddall; physiotherapist Rebecca McCabe; and clinical psychologist with a PhD in cancer symptoms, Dr Skye Dong.
The app features exercises, via audio and visual guidance, to help the user put in practice some of the techniques discussed.
Professor Lovell, founding Chair of the Australian Cancer Pain Management Guideline Working Party, said cancer pain is becoming an increasing challenge as the population ages.
“Better treatments and more treatment mean people live for longer with cancer. These two positives also mean that more people are living with cancer pain,” she said.
The best pain control, she said, involves a collaboration between clinicians and the person living with cancer optimising non-pharmacological approaches in combination with medicines.
Cassandra Bennett, 42, who was diagnosed with a brain tumour in 2018, says living with debilitating headaches has been managed with some of the techniques discussed in the book.
“Pain caused by cancer is different to other types of pain. Mine has been like nothing I have experienced before in my life,” she said.
“For many people with the cancer pain there are no quick fixes. Learning to live with it in a nuanced and personal way can benefit both people with cancer pain and their families.”
