Pain experienced by lung cancer patients: a review of prevalence, causes and pathophysiology

Potter, Jean; Higginson, Irene J

doi:10.1016/j.lungcan.2003.08.030

Cited by 97 publications

(70 citation statements)

References 56 publications

(66 reference statements)

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…59 Patients with advanced disease typically experience pain that is more severe and that occurs in more sites than patients with early-stage disease. 60 Although the severity and source of pain may vary, estimates indicate that pain occurs in up to 70% to 90% of patients with cancer at end of life (EOL).…”

Section: Pain and Psychological Factors At The End Of Lifementioning

confidence: 99%

Psychological and Behavioral Approaches to Cancer Pain Management

Syrjala

Jensen

Mendoza

et al. 2014

JCO

270

176

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

This review examines evidence for psychological factors that affect pain across the cancer continuum from diagnosis through treatment and long-term survivorship or end of life. Evidence is convincing that emotional distress, depression, anxiety, uncertainty, and hopelessness interact with pain. Unrelieved pain can increase a desire for hastened death. Patients with cancer use many strategies to manage pain, with catastrophizing associated with increased pain and self-efficacy associated with lower pain reports. A variety of psychological and cognitive behavioral treatments can reduce pain severity and interference with function, as indicated in multiple meta-analyses and high-quality randomized controlled trials. Effective methods include education (with coping skills training), hypnosis, cognitive behavioral approaches, and relaxation with imagery. Exercise has been tested extensively in patients with cancer and long-term survivors, but few exercise studies have evaluated pain outcomes. In survivors post-treatment, yoga and hypnosis as well as exercise show promise for controlling pain. Although some of these treatments effectively reduce pain for patients with advanced disease, few have been tested in patients at the end of life. Given the clear indicators that psychological factors affect cancer pain and that psychological and behavioral treatments are effective in reducing varying types of pain for patients with active disease, these methods need further testing in cancer survivors post-treatment and in patients with end-stage disease. Multidisciplinary teams are essential in oncology settings to integrate analgesic care and expertise in psychological and behavioral interventions in standard care for symptom management, including pain.

show abstract

Section: Pain and Psychological Factors At The End Of Lifementioning

confidence: 99%

Psychological and Behavioral Approaches to Cancer Pain Management

Syrjala

Jensen

Mendoza

et al. 2014

JCO

270

176

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…19 Pain and dyspnoea affects between 63% and 88% of patients with lung cancer cared by palliative care services. 20 These symptoms have profound secondary effects on patients' emotional, social, and spiritual wellbeing. 15,21,22 Levels of psychological distress have been reported to be as high as 43% for clinical depression 23,24 and 17% for clinical anxiety, 25,26 and 60% for overall emotional distress.…”

Section: Patient Symptomatologymentioning

confidence: 99%

The impact of lung cancer on patients and carers

Ellis¹

2012

Chron Respir Dis

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

This article aims to provide a brief review of the literature with regard to the impact of lung cancer on patients and their informal carers. Compared to other types of cancer, the distress associated with lung cancer has been found to be the most intense. Rather than focusing on symptoms in isolation recent emphasis regarding the symptom experience has been on symptoms clusters, as understanding these clusters may improve the management of ongoing and unrelieved symptoms. However, the disparities in methodology are significant barriers to producing comparable results, although recent efforts have been made to address these. Whilst research into symptoms has enormous potential for the management of symptom clusters, it needs to move away from the essentially reductionist stance which currently dominates and broaden its scope to one that acknowledges the complexity of the experience of symptom clusters from the perspective of the patient and their informal carer. Poor management of symptoms complicates patient care and potentially contributes to the heavy burden which often falls on family caregivers, especially as the disease progresses. The majority of studies focus on the experiences of primary care providers, most often the partner/spouse. Such studies have shown that spouses of patients with lung cancer exhibit significant distress and lower levels of quality of life than the general population. Research also indicates that significant others go through a transition process due to changes brought about by the diagnosis of lung cancer and struggle to endure and overcome difficulties and distress. Significant others were seen to suffer during this process of transition and experienced altered relationships. Clinicians working with patients suffering from lung cancer and their carers should intervene to enhance their quality of life from diagnosis, during the disease trajectory and during bereavement. Interventions need to be developed to support both patients and carers.

show abstract

“…In addition, the short and long term consequences of radiotherapy and chemotherapy treatments can be painful 7,18 .…”

Section: Somatic Pain In Lung Cancermentioning

confidence: 99%

“…According to a study by Potter and Higginson, pain experienced by lung cancer patients is usually of mixed pathophysiology and a relatively high proportion is attributable to neuropathic mechanisms 7 .…”

Section: Neuropathic Pain In Lung Cancermentioning

confidence: 99%