Revista de Oncología Integrativa

Non-Drug Approaches for cancer patients

Abstract

Evangelia Michail Michailidou*

Non pharmacological treatments are valuable adjuncts to the treatment modalities for patients with cancer pain. Variety can be used to minimize pain and concomitant mood disturbance and improve quality of life. Physicians may feel relatively uninformed about the approaches used and scientific support for cancer patients. This article discusses a variety of non-pharmacological and complementary and alternative approaches widely used in patients with cancer pain. It focuses on those with scientific support or encouraging preliminary evidence, with the intention of familiarizing physicians with therapies that may supplement routine oncological treatment.

Pain is a multi-faceted condition involving biological , psychological and social effects. The incidence of pain in cancer patients has been reported to be between 46% and 79% during cancer care and 65% for those with advanced disease. Etiological causes for cancer pain include disease progression, treatment strategies for stopping cancer (e.g. surgery, chemotherapy, or radiotherapy), inactivity musculoskeletal pain, and cancer-related infections that cause neuropathic pain.

A mixture of pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatment approaches for cancer pain is the standard of care as set out in the latest recommendations of the World Health Organization (WHO).