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Health Matters: Take Action Against Cancer-Related Bone Pain

(NewsUSA) - No one likes to see a loved one in pain. Some say they would rather feel the pain themselves than watch someone they love suffer.

Academy Award winning actress Olympia Dukakis saw a loved one experience severe pain as a result of metastatic bone pain.

"My dear friend was in such agony that she could not even get out of bed," said Dukakis. "I encourage those who are suffering not to live in pain like my friend did, but to seek information that might help them find relief."

There may be potential options for people with cancer who suffer from bone pain. An investigational medication for cancer-related bone pain is being studied in clinical trial sites across the country. The study is currently enrolling patients who suffer from moderate to severe bone pain caused by cancer.

Talking About Pain
According to the American Pain Society, pain should be viewed as the fifth vital sign. Just as we have our temperature, pulse, respiration and blood pressure taken as part of routine medical checkups, we should expect pain to be measured and treated as well.

"If pain were assessed with the same regularity as other vital signs, people with cancer may be more likely to live without bone pain," said Dr. Julie Gralow, a cancer specialist with the University of Washington. "People with cancer no longer should suffer needlessly in silence if their bones ache and should seek information."

Pain is frequently under-treated in the cancer setting. Studies show more than 70 percent of Americans with cancer experience pain, but only half of severe cancer patients receive adequate pain relief. The National Institutes of Health has found that many people are reluctant to talk about pain.

People with cancer are encouraged to communicate with a doctor or nurse to help identify and treat pain. Here are some tips to help get the dialogue started:

* Location: Where does it hurt? Is the pain in the same place, does it move, or does it just hurt all over?
* Description: Is the pain sharp, dull, throbbing or achy? Does the pain have a burning, electrical shock or shooting quality to it?
* Duration: How long does the pain normally last? Has the pain gotten worse over time?
* Past history: Has this type of pain been experienced before? Does it hurt more or less than the previous times?
* Severity: How strong or weak is the pain? Many people measure their pain on a scale from 0 to 10. Zero is no pain and 10 is the worst pain.
* Pain relief: What measures have been used to relieve the pain? Did they work? If they didn't, what else was done?

If you or someone you know experiences moderate to severe bone pain caused by cancer, visit www.bonepain.com or call (877) 860-BONE to determine if participation in a clinical trial might be right for you.

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