Some say that the greatest dignity in one's life is to journey through the final stage calmly and painlessly. For patients with terminal cancer, their most basic wish is not to be cured, but to be spared from severe pain, to live with dignity, and to pass away peacefully.
Recently, the story of a family member of a patient with terminal stomach cancer crossing the Qiongzhou Strait to fetch medicine from afar has touched the hearts of countless people.
A journey of thousands of miles, all for a single dose of painkiller
Mr. Liu, 71 years old, is a patient with advanced gastric cancer that has metastasized throughout his body. The severe cancer pain tormented the elderly man day and night.
Fortunately, in early May, Mr. Liu was able to use a patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) pump in the pain department of Hainan Cancer Hospital. The individualized, precise, and stable analgesia treatment effectively controlled the severe pain that had long plagued him, allowing the elderly man to finally rest comfortably and no longer be tormented by the intense pain.
Director Zhang Zhichun implemented PCA technology for the patient (data image)
Two weeks ago, due to an unexpected situation, Mr. Liu was taken back to his hometown of Guilin, Guangxi, for rest and recuperation. He had thought he could live a peaceful life, but a difficult problem suddenly emerged for the entire family.
The longest usage period of the patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) pump is only 7 days. After the medication is depleted, the local hospital has not yet launched PCA home analgesia services; furthermore, the elderly person's physical condition is extremely poor, making them unable to take oral analgesics, and they are even more unwilling to spend the rest of their life in the hospital. They were temporarily in a desperate situation.
Watching her father in excruciating pain, tossing and turning, the daughter and her husband were filled with anxiety and helplessness. In order to spare the elderly from suffering, Mr. Xu, the daughter's husband, made a helpless yet resolute decision: to fly to Hainan again and travel thousands of miles to Hainan Cancer Hospital to retrieve the prepared analgesic solution for his father-in-law.
"I just want to alleviate his pain in the last mile of his life, so that he won't leave in agony." This simple sentence speaks volumes about the family's heartache and helplessness.
Provide professional analgesia and deliver medical care with warmth
In the perception of most people, pain in advanced cancer can only be endured. In fact, cancer pain is a disease that can be treated in a standardized manner. Rational and scientific use of analgesic methods can greatly improve the quality of life of patients with advanced cancer.
Hainan Cancer Hospital has been deeply involved in the field of standardized diagnosis and treatment of cancer pain. Relying on mature patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) technology, it has dispelled the haze of illness for numerous patients with advanced cancer pain and helped them overcome the distress of severe pain. To bridge the last "one kilometer" of the whole-process management of cancer pain, it has taken the lead in launching home-based analgesia services across the province.
Zhang Zhichun, Director of the Pain Department at Hainan Cancer Hospital, explained that compared to traditional analgesia methods, patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) pumps are more humane and safer. Doctors tailor medication plans according to patients' physical conditions, and when patients experience pain, they can self-administer medication with a single button press, quickly relieving pain. This is suitable for patients undergoing home care and those with terminal illnesses.
Attach importance to cancer pain management and promote the swift implementation of home-based analgesia
Mr. Liu's story is not an isolated case. The insufficient supply of basic analgesic drugs, poor regional medical coordination, and lack of public awareness regarding pain relief are common challenges faced by cancer pain patients.
The country has introduced a series of policies related to hospice care, explicitly requiring the improvement of pain management for terminal patients, optimization of analgesic drug allocation, and promotion of home hospice care services. The core of hospice care has never been to give up treatment, but to alleviate pain, comfort the body and mind, and safeguard dignity.
Many people mistakenly believe that painkillers are addictive and that enduring pain is a sign of strength. In fact, under medical guidance, patients with terminal cancer pain have a very low probability of becoming addicted to analgesics. Unnecessarily enduring pain can only lead to appetite loss, insomnia, anxiety, and decreased immunity, accelerating physical deterioration.
May every illness be treated with gentleness
"Boundaries in healthcare, but no boundaries in warmth." Director Zhang Zhichun calls on the whole society to pay attention to cancer pain patients:
Eliminate misconceptions:
Abandon the outdated concept of "enduring pain patiently". Cancer pain can be treated and controlled, and there is no need to bear it alone;
Standardize diagnosis and treatment:
Medical institutions continue to improve the whole-process management of cancer pain and promote the implementation of home analgesia services as soon as possible;
Optimization and support:
Unimpeded analgesic drug prescribing channels and simplified medication process for critically ill patients;
Warm care:
Attach importance to hospice care, and give more understanding, respect, and companionship to terminal patients.
The end of life should not be overshadowed by piercing pain. The pain management team at Hainan Cancer Hospital will continue to refine cancer pain diagnosis and treatment techniques, delve deeply into the field of palliative care, and ensure that every cancer pain patient can complete their life journey painlessly and with dignity, allowing medical warmth to permeate the entire process of life.
Expert Introduction
Zhang Zhichun, Chief Physician
Head of Pain Department
academic leader
High-level talents in Hainan Free Trade Port
Medical expertise
With extensive experience in the diagnosis and treatment of chronic pain diseases and comfort-based analgesia, I specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer pain, herpes zoster, headache, spinal joint, and soft tissue pain diseases. I possess unique insights and extensive experience in comfort-based analgesia techniques throughout the entire patient diagnosis and treatment process.