This archive report was first published on 25 August 2020.
Dealing with pain after cancer treatment ¶
August 25, 2020
According to the World Health Organization, nearly 48,000 Kenyans get cancer every year, many of whom are currently being treated and struggling to make sense of how to live with the side-effects of treatment.
Cancer rehabilitation plays a vital role in managing the physical, social, and emotional capabilities of an individual. It prevents or limits impairment, and comprises several therapies including speech and language, physical, occupational, and lymphedema.
Mr. Bhavsar, a physical therapist at MP Shah Hospital, specializes in cancer, neuro, stroke, and pain rehabilitation. He emphasizes the importance of seeking treatment at the first signs of lymphedema, as early diagnosis and treatment improves the condition.
There is no one best way of treating lymphedema, but a combination of management therapies is recommended. These include different exercises, use of compression garments, complete decongestive therapy, and education on how to minimize the impact of lymphedema.
Compression stockings come in different levels of compression, which refer to the amount of pressure applied to the leg. The higher the number, the greater the compression. Class 2 stockings, which provide 23-32 mm of hg compression, are often prescribed for lymphedema.
Many cancer patients experience hair loss due to chemotherapy and radiotherapy, which compromise the normal cell division process. Pain management strategies depend on the causes, and may include stretching exercises, joint mobility exercises, lymphatic massage, and medication.
Phantom pain or phantom breast syndrome is a common phenomenon after mastectomy, where the brain continues to send signals to nerves in the breast area even though the breast is no longer there. Cognitional functional education helps to change and adapt the perception of the phantom breast.
As a cancer survivor, exercises that minimize cancer-related effects and improve quality of life are recommended. A combination of flexibility, mobility, strength, endurance, and circulation exercises is ideal, and adults should engage in 150 to 300 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity per week, or 75 to 150 minutes of vigorous-intensity physical activity.
