From October 21 to 27, 2024, we will observe China Pain Relief Week. To promote knowledge of pain management and disseminate advanced pain treatment concepts, Hainan Cancer Hospital and Hainan Chengmei Hospital are seizing this opportunity to organize a series of activities including free health consultations, pain management lectures, and patient-caregiver salons. These initiatives aim to help everyone understand pain correctly, pay attention to it, and confront it directly.
On December 21, experts from various disciplines, including the Pain Management Department, Orthopedic Surgery, Rehabilitation Medicine, Medical Oncology, Clinical Pharmacy, and Pain Nursing Specialist Group, held a free consultation event in the outpatient lobby of Hainan Cancer Hospital.
The atmosphere at the event was lively and orderly, with citizens seeking help from the consulting experts regarding their pain issues. The specialists conducted one-on-one professional pain assessments, patiently listening to each citizens description of their condition. They thoroughly understood information such as the location, nature, duration, and accompanying symptoms of the patients pain, while tailoring targeted treatment measures according to individual circumstances and considering each patients unique differences.
In addition to patient consultations, the Pain Nursing Specialist Group kindly provided free services for measuring blood pressure and blood sugar during the event, while also distributing informational brochures to educate the public about pain management techniques.
In addition to the free consultation event, the healthcare team from the second ward of the Medical Oncology Department at Hainan Cancer Hospital also hosted a small seminar on pain management. The nursing staff presented topics such as "Standardized Treatment of Cancer Pain" and "Prevention and Nursing of Adverse Reactions to Analgesic Medications," providing patients and their families with a detailed introduction to the definition and classification of cancer pain, principles of pharmacological treatment, and the significance of standardized treatment in improving the quality of life for cancer pain patients. They also explained strategies for preventing and managing adverse reactions to analgesics, equipping patients and their families with the correct coping methods.
Many people view pain merely as a symptom and tend to believe that "it will go away if you endure it." However, pain itself is a disease, and "chronic pain" severely impacts peoples work and life, often leading to a series of pathophysiological changes that affect emotional and psychological health. Therefore, if pain persists for more than three months, it is crucial to seek professional pain management treatment at a hospital; otherwise, one risks missing the optimal treatment window, allowing minor pain to escalate into significant pain with far-reaching consequences.
For some patients with malignant tumors, cancer pain presents a harsh reality they must face. Many late-stage cancer patients become pessimistic and even exhibit nihilistic emotions due to cancer pain, making pain control a key aspect of palliative care.
Zhang Zhichun, Director of the Pain Management Department at Hainan Cancer Hospital, emphasized that unlike traditional healthcare, which focuses primarily on treating diseases and prolonging life—even at the cost of current quality of life—palliative care prioritizes life rather than death. It aims to reduce patient pain and discomfort while enhancing the present quality of life for both patients and their families, underscoring the importance of palliative care.
This year, Hainan Cancer Hospital and Hainan Chengmei Hospital have launched a comprehensive initiative for building a "Pain-Free Hospital," based on their specialized features. The "Pain-Free" services encompass over 50 offerings related to cancer pain, chronic pain conditions, and comfort-focused analgesic treatment. For patients with refractory cancer pain, they provide a series of standardized management services, including patient-controlled analgesia pump technology, nerve block techniques, and home pain relief options. Furthermore, they have been designated by the China Anti-Cancer Association as the exclusive "Standardized Diagnosis and Treatment Demonstration Base for Intractable Pain - New Elite Base" in Hainan Province.
Written and directed by Huang Fei