Morphine can 'kill cancer pain'<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Having to deal with cancer is one's worst nightmare, not to
\nmention the chronic pain that often results.<\/p>\n
\"I have to put up with on and off pain all the time,
\nespecially when I am depressed,\" said Etty, a 48-year-old mother
\nof two who found out that she had breast cancer a year ago.<\/p>\n
Etty kept dealt with her pain in silence and refused to take
\npain-killers. \"I am afraid of becoming addicted to those drugs,\"
\nshe said.<\/p>\n
Cancer patients do not have to endure chronic pain because
\npain-killers, including morphine -- which are commonly feared as
\nthey are highly addictive, can release people from much of their
\nsuffering, a local oncologist claimed.<\/p>\n
\"A right dose of the correct type of medication will free
\npatients from cancer pain and will have minimal side effects,
\nthus allowing them to go on with their daily activities,\"
\nDharmais Cancer Hospital research and development head Asrul
\nHasral stated during a seminar on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
While the Ministry of Health's data on the number of cancer
\npatients reached 6 percent of the population recently, Asrul said
\nthat \"one out of three patients with early stages of cancer
\ncomplain about the pain they have to endure, while the figure
\nincreases to two out of three of those in the late stages.\"<\/p>\n
Cancer pain, said Asrul, is assessed very subjectively,
\naccording to the patients' indidividual pain tolerance levels,
\nmeasured by a standard assessment means called the Visual Analog
\nScale. A patient will identify points on scale ranging from 0 for
\nnot painful to 10 for intolerable.<\/p>\n
The assessment will also be supported by imaging, or CT-scan
\ndata, to determine whether the pain is caused by broken tissues,
\ndamaged organs or nerves.<\/p>\n
Medication can then be given accurately. Light cancer pain can
\nbe treated with standard over-the-counter pain relief medication
\nsuch as aspirin or acetaminophen, while more severe pain is
\nbetter treated by stronger medicine such as morphine.<\/p>\n
\"Morphine, whether given orally or through injection, will not
\ncause addiction if taken in a proper dose, continuously and
\naccording to schedule,\" Asrul said, adding that it was sudden
\ntermination of the drug that would lead to symptoms of addiction.<\/p>\n
\"It is necessary to slowly taper off the use of it in order to
\nprevent negative side effects,\" he explained.<\/p>\n
Opiate-based medication should also be accompanied by other
\ndrugs such as antidepressants, anticonvulsants, bisphosphonates
\nand radiation treatment, depending on the needs or symptoms of a
\npatient, according to the doctor.<\/p>\n
\"Patients also need not worry about being 'mind-clouded'
\nbecause of morphine, as it only causes drowsiness and
\nconstipation that can be taken care of by taking anti-
\nconstipation drugs.<\/p>\n
For those reluctant to take chemical-based drugs, another
\noption lies in the alternative herbal medicines.(003)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/morphine-can-kill-cancer-pain-1447893297",
"image": ""
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