Breakthrough Cancer Pain is Top Challenge for Cancer Patients, Even When Using Pain Treatments, A New Survey Reveals

American Pain Foundation Launches New Resources to Help

BALTIMORE, MD — (January 28, 2010) — Pain is one of the most common, yet misunderstood and feared symptoms of cancer. A new survey released today by the American Pain Foundation (APF) reveals that breakthrough cancer pain — sudden, temporary flares of severe pain that occur even when pain medication is used — is one of the most challenging aspects of having cancer, according to three out of four (75 percent) U.S. adults who have ever been diagnosed with cancer and experience this type of pain. The survey also found that breakthrough cancer pain negatively impacts quality of life, contributes to additional financial hardships, and can interfere with one’s ability to cope with other aspects of cancer treatment. “We’re not talking about minor aches and pains,” said Will Rowe, APF’s Chief Executive Officer. “These severe flares of pain often strike without warning, leaving many people fearful of the next crippling episode and unduly burdening patients and their families. Effective pain management is critical to restoring the quality of life these individuals so rightfully deserve.” More than half of those surveyed (53 percent) rated their pain an eight, nine, or 10 out of 10, with 10 being the worst pain imaginable. While 44 percent said their pain is not adequately controlled, a vast majority (91 percent) believe their quality of life would “greatly improve” if they could get their breakthrough cancer pain under control.

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Found this article on the Fibromyalgia Network. Thought it would add to the accumulation of info regarding Omega-3. I have been taking liquid cod liver oil for 2 months and haven’t seen any results yet; but I’m hopeful.

Posted: January 29, 2010

Omega-3 fatty acid (FA) supplements can benefit your joints and cardiovascular system, but what about the pain of fibromyalgia? A small, one-month study involving 12 fibromyalgia patients showed improvements in tender point pain counts, chest expansion (e.g., less muscle tightness), and perceived fatigue levels.¹ Even total cholesterol dropped with the supplementation of 1,500 mg per day of the combined two key omega-3 FAs: eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA).

Vegetable oils are not a source of EPA or DHA. Fish oils that have been processed and encapsulated increase the concentration of these two essential omega-3 FAs. The manner in which omega-3 FAs work to relieve fibromyalgia or neuropathic-type pain is not clear. However, a recent case series report on the use of omega-3 FAs to substantially reduce the neuropathic pain and restore function in five patients (one with fibromyalgia), is quite impressive.

read more…

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Is Jesus God?

Study by Jonnie Wright

Read Scripture Passage: John 8:48-59 NIV

1.   How did the Jewish leaders respond to Jesus’ claim of being God? (v. 59)

 2.   The Jewish leaders’ made three statements revealing their unbelief? State them in your own words. (v. 48, 53, 57)

 3.   What three statements did Jesus make about God and/or Himself? State these in your own words. (v. 51, 54, 58)

4.   Jesus drew a virtual line in the sand stating that He is God. If you believe His statement as truth, then you have eternal life.

5.   Many people pick and choose what they want to believe in the Bible. In John 14:6, Jesus states, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.” Jesus drew a virtual line in the sand stating that He is God. If you believe His statement as truth, then you have eternal life. What happens if you disbelieve?

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What a great thought Julie Beyer, MA, RD has proposed in this question of eating healthy for a disease like Interstitial Cystitis (I have it, though am not sure how to spell it :O)

I forget that instead of dreading food choices that are not my favorite, I can look forward to food choices that can become my favorite, even if I like them just a little  bit. Be encouraged to make one change at a time–mine is to give ice cream orgies and stick with an occassional scoop… a small step but one I think I can make… and here are some more ideas in Ms. Beyer’s answer to the age-old of what to do to fix ourselves through good food choices.  

Meal Planning Using the IC Food List

Question:
I promised myself that this year I’d eat better in hopes of helping to control my IC pain. However, I don’t know how to get started. Can you help?

Answer:
It’s a new year, a new decade, and a great time to think about making changes to your diet that can help control your bladder symptoms. Need some inspiration? Greg Anderson, athlete and cancer survivor wrote in his book, The 22 Non-Negotiable Laws of Wellness:

Changing our diet is something we choose to do, not something we are forced to do. Instead of dreading it, try saying, “There’s another thing I get to do to help myself!”

When you think about it, Anderson is right. Changing what we eat can be much easier if we work on changing our attitude. Instead of looking at meal planning as a daunting task, consider it a challenge—something you CHOOSE to do to help yourself!

When making your meal plans, include everything you will eat: breakfasts, lunches, dinners, and snacks. The website www.MyPyramid.gov has wonderful tools to help determine which food groups to include in your plan. Once you have a basic plan, add foods from the “Bladder Friendly” column of the new IC Food List. It is not necessary to plan fancy meals. New patients especially, find it easier to keep meals as simple as possible. It is much easier to sort out which foods may cause your symptoms to flare if you are eating simple foods without multiple ingredients.

Other helpful hints for planning meals:

• Figure out meals a week or a month at a time. Although it may take some time up front, it can help keep you on track, minimizing the chances that you will make a choice at the last minute that can upset your bladder.
• Make menu planning a family affair. Consulting with other family members about menu choices can increase their understanding of your condition.
• Include foods that might be triggers for you, but that your family can eat. It was nearly a year before I realized that I had not been buying strawberries for my family just because I couldn’t have them!
• Use your menu to create a grocery list for the week. Often people walk through the supermarket waiting for inspiration to strike. Sticking to a grocery list can help you resist buying items impulsively, which can be tough on the wallet and the bladder.
• Recycle your weekly meal plans. Once you developed a few weeks of menus that you and your family enjoy, go ahead and reuse them. Save the grocery lists, too! Hospitals, schools, and nursing homes use this “cycle menu” approach to simplify planning.

Remember, eating healthy and avoiding foods that can trigger bladder symptoms is something you have within your control. You CAN do it!

Julie Beyer, MA, RD

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The Fix-it for your Pain

by Jonnie Wright

Anyone who struggles with chronic pain has searched for the silver bullet—the magic elixir that will end the incessant suffering and return one’s life to normal. If we search for God’s prescription, however, we will soon discover that our silver bullet is not a medication, a therapy, an exercise regime, a seminar, a new mechanical manipulation, an operation, or even the latest, greatest cure-all potion offered by marketing enterprises. Instead, God’s prescription is a relationship with a person, Jesus Christ. Being called a “Christian” is to declare a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and to be one of His peculiar people: “Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.” (Titus 2:13-14 KJV) Christians are distinctive and have hope where others would find none. The Silver Bullet is a devotional Bible study designed to increase spiritual hope in Jesus Christ despite one’s physical condition. So let’s not be fooled by the world’s promises of quick fixes and magic cures. Our endurance is in Jesus Christ, who gives us assurance of a spiritually fruitful life no matter what our circumstances may be. God does not waste anyone’s suffering, but rather uses it for His purposes: “As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish… so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.” (Isa. 55:10-11 NIV) Let’s use God’s antidote, Jesus Christ, as our sought after silver bullet. Over the next weeks I will be sharing with you the studies that are found in THE SILVER BULLET: GOD’S Rx FOR CHRONIC PAIN by Jonnie Wright. These lessons have been modified for blog format.  I encourage you to try out a few of these studies. They are short, comprehensive, and provide Scripture passages for easy reference. We Christians need to grow in integrity and understanding of who we are in Jesus Christ. Jesus is that silver bullet you seek to “fix” you.

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Study One: Who is Jesus?

by Jonnie Wright

“Jesus said unto them, ‘Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.’”  (John 8:58 KJV)

Jewish leaders in the synagogue were the base of power during the time of Jesus. These leaders were composed of: the scribes, who were considered the experts in Biblical interpretation; the Pharisees, who believed that Torah—the man-made oral and written interpretations of the law—was equal with the God-given Law of Moses; and the Sadducees, who scrupulously followed the letter of the law, but not its underlying principles. The synagogue was the focal point of daily Jewish living. Every Jewish man, woman, and child was impacted by the events occurring in the synagogue.

The Romans occupied and ruled the nation of Israel, but everything Roman was abhorred and shunned by the Jewish community. The Jewish leaders in power had to maneuver within the political confines of Roman occupation and still appear to scrupulously follow the laws and oral traditions of their religion and way of life.

When Jesus pronounced that He had the same name as God, the Jewish leaders of the day wanted to stone Him for blasphemy. Jesus called Himself, “I am,” which is the same name God used when speaking to Moses. If Jesus declared Himself to have the same name as God, then He was declaring that He was God. Angering the Jews further was the fact that Jesus put Himself before Abraham chronologically, making Himself more important than the Patriarch of Judaism. The synagogue leaders—who were the scribes, the Pharisees, and the Sadducees—could not grasp how Jesus, appearing as a man, could possibly be their expected Savior, the Messiah.

1.   Jesus declares that He and Father God are the same by using God’s name, I-AM. What does that scriptural claim mean to you?

2.   Easton’s Illustrated Dictionary clarifies the Biblical term of blasphemy: “In the sense of speaking evil of God this word is found in (Ps 74:18; Isa 52:5; Rom 2:24; Rev 13:1, 6; Rev 16:9, 11, 21). It denotes also any kind of calumny, or evil-speaking, or abuse (1Ki 21:10; Acts 13:45; Acts 18:6). Our Lord was accused of blasphemy when he claimed to be the Son of God (Mat 26:65; Compare Mat 9:3; Mark 2:7). They who deny his Messiahship blaspheme Jesus (Luke 22:65; John 10:36).” In Jesus’ day stoning was the capital punishment for blasphemy and was prescribed in the Law of Moses, Lev. 24:14‑16.

      What does blasphemy mean to you? Can you think of a time when you might have committed blasphemy? Who took your punishment so that you could ask for forgiveness and be unburdened of that sin?

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Though I’ve had FMS for 30 years, there is always something new to learn. I hope this article from the American Pain Foundation is of interest.

Fibromyalgia: Five Things You Need to Know

by Dr. Clauw serves as Director of the Chronic Pain and Fatigue Research Center at UM

 For people living with fibromyalgia, the pain is very real.  The chronic, widespread pain and tenderness is persistent and debilitating and can impact a person’s life.  Some fibromyalgia patients may also experience other symptoms, which can prevent them from sleeping well, performing everyday tasks and enjoying life to its fullest.

More than five million Americans are affected by fibromyalgia, but the condition can affect people differently, and many health professionals are still learning how to diagnose and treat the condition.  Patients can face misdiagnoses and often learn to cope with the pain for a long time.  For some patients, it can take up to five years to receive a diagnosis. But there is hope.

Clinical understanding of fibromyalgia, its origins and treatment options, has improved in recent years. It is now thought that fibromyalgia is related to changes in the central nervous system that cause the brain to process pain signals abnormally, increasing sensitivity to pain—or put another way—the “volume control” for pain is turned up, so even a hug or handshake can be painful for someone with fibromyalgia.

If you suffer from the chronic widespread pain of fibromyalgia, you can get answers, manage symptoms and find support with some basic knowledge and the right tools.

Five things you need to know about fibromyalgia

1. Pain isn’t the only sign. Chronic, widespread pain that lasts for at least three months is a classic sign of fibromyalgia. You may wake up with stiff muscles or find that you are fatigued or having trouble remembering things. Fibromyalgia can also coexist with other health conditions, such as arthritis, chronic fatigue syndrome and mood or sleep disorders.

2. Diagnosis may be challenging. Clinicians must rely on your symptoms and medical history to make a diagnosis, since there is no lab test or x-ray to confirm the disorder.  A healthcare provider may ask you to react to specific “tender points” on your body, as defined by the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) diagnostic criteria. The ACR guidelines state that pain at 11 out of 18 tender points may indicate fibromyalgia. “Undiagnosed fibromyalgia can be debilitating for patients,” said Daniel Clauw, MD, director of the Chronic Pain and Fatigue Research Center at the University of Michigan. “In addition to the ACR guidelines, additional tools are in development to help facilitate the diagnosis of fibromyalgia and capture the full range of symptoms that often accompany the pain, including physical functioning, sleep and overall well-being.”

3. Fibromyalgia isn’t just a woman’s disease—men get it too. The large majority of those diagnosed with fibromyalgia are women, but some believe this may be due in part to men underreporting their symptoms. “Men have been taught since childhood to shake it off,” said Bob Hall, founder of the website www.menwithfibro.com. In his eight years running the site, Hall said he has seen men succumb to gender roles and try to ignore their discomfort. “Men aren’t taught to show pain,” said Hall. “But eventually they reach a point where it doesn’t shake off, and they have to do something. That’s what usually triggers them to go to the doctor.”

4. Be persistent about getting help. Many people with fibromyalgia have encountered skeptics—co-workers who may not understand why you have trouble getting out of bed, family members who may not appreciate why you’re so tired and healthcare providers who may not have much experience diagnosing the disorder.  But, trust your instincts and seek medical advice. Find a healthcare provider who listens to you. 

There are also many online resources that can help you on your path to relief. The American Pain Foundation (APF) has a variety of materials, including a self-assessment and online toolkit and educational webinars, to help you recognize the symptoms of fibromyalgia, find the right care provider and get treatment. With the help of these resources and with the support of family and friends, you can start to feel more in control of your body. As always, you should consult with your healthcare provider about your symptoms, other health problems you may have, as well as how the pain interferes with your daily life. This will help you work together to find the best treatment plan.

5. You can live well with fibromyalgia. “There’s a misconception on the part of patients that there’s nothing you can do to alleviate your pain. But that’s not true,” said Dr. Clauw. The best first step is to get an accurate diagnosis. Then, take charge of your treatment plan by:

• Taking note of what parts of your body are tender and when the pain comes and goes.
• Learning how to describe your pain, and creating your own pain scale to chart its severity. See APF’s Targeting Chronic Pain Notebook as a resource.
• Talking to a healthcare provider about your symptoms and how to adapt your daily activities.
• Managing the stress and fatigue that may be associated with your pain.
• Keeping a record of which medications and non-drug therapies work for you.
• Finally, joining a support group in your community or online (check out APF’s online support community, PainAid) can be helpful.  Talking with others about fibromyalgia can help relieve the burden of living with the disorder and may provide you with new information on therapies and management strategies.

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Dear God,

Please untie the knots that are in my mind, my heart and my life.
Remove the have nots, the can nots and the do nots that I have in my mind.

Erase the will nots, may nots, and might nots that find a home in my heart.

Release me from the could nots, would nots and should nots that obstruct my life.

And most of all, dear God, I ask that you remove from my mind my heart and my life all of the am nots that I have allowed to hold me back, especially the thought that I am not good enough.

Amen.

Anonymous

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Safety Alert: Voluntary Recall

January 2010 

McNeil Consumer Healthcare Voluntarily Recalls Certain Over-The-Counter (OTC) Products Manufactured in the U.S. and Other Countries.

In consultation with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), McNeil Consumer Healthcare has voluntarily recalled certain lot numbers following an investigation of consumer reports of an unusual moldy, musty, or mildew-like odor. The odor was associated with temporary, non-serious gastrointestinal symptoms, including nausea, stomach pain, vomiting, and/or diarrhea.

This recall expands an earlier recall of acetaminophen 100-count bottles with EZ open caps labeled Tylenol Arthritis that began in late 2009. Some of the medications included in this expanded recall are used in the treatment of pain, like:   

• Children’s Motrin
• Children’s Meltaway Tylenol
• Benadryl
• Extra Strength Tylenol
• Regular Strength Tylenol
• Motrin IB
• Rolaids
• St. Joseph Aspirin
• Tylenol 8 hour

Specific lot numbers affected by this recall can be found at http://www.mcneilproductrecall.com/. To find if you are in possession of any of the affected products, look on the side of the bottle label for the lot number.

Individuals who may have ANY of these lots in their possession should:

• Stop taking the medication.
• Contact your healthcare provider if you have recently taken any of these medications and are experiencing symptoms as listed above or have medically-related questions.
• Report any adverse reactions to the FDA’s MedWatch Program by:
  o Fax: 1-800-FDA-0178,
  o Mail: MedWatch, FDA, 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, MD 20852-9787
  o Internet: www.fda.gov/medwatch (Medwatch website)
• Contact McNeil Consumer Healthcare for instructions if you wish to obtain replacement medications or a refund and also to receive information about safe disposal of these products.

The public may direct questions to McNeil Consumer Healthcare at www.mcneilproductrecall.com or 1-888-222-6036 (Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. Eastern time and Saturday-Sunday 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Eastern time).

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Ministering to the Chronically Ill: 20 Ways That Take 20 Minutes

by Lisa Copen

Rest Ministries, the largest Christian organization that specifically serves the chronically ill, recently did a survey and asked people to “List some of the programs or resources a church could offer to make it more inviting comfortable” They have provided a sampling of some of the 800+ responses, all of which could be done in 20 minutes or less.

1. Encouragement emails.

2. Make sure the handicapped stalls in the restroom are functioning and clean.

3. Padded chairs or cushions, room for wheelchairs, and plenty of room for my family to sit with me.

4. Be open-minded about a support group for the chronically ill like HopeKeepers. It would make me feel very special, knowing that there is an understanding of people’s needs that are not always visible.

5. Add more disabled parking, even if they are temporary spots.

6. Educate the ushers that people arriving late may have difficulty walking or getting out of cars and will need some assistance.

7. Ask volunteers to call people with chronic illness just to check on them when they don’t make it to services.

8. When suppers are given, recognize that I may need help getting my meal–or at least understand that I won’t be able to wait in a long line.

9. Be gentle when giving people big hugs. It can topple over or hurt a person.

10. Have a video tape of the service, not just a live web cast. Not all our computers work that well.

11. Make sure that the church doors aren’t too difficult to open or at least have mechanical assistance if they’re unusually heavy.

12. Stop telling me that if I really believed and had faith I would be healed by now. Please don’t insist how good I look, because I know for a fact that I look terrible and miserable that day.

13. Offer me ways to serve within the church that can be performed regularly, but not on a set schedule. I still want to contribute, but I need some flexibility so that I can do a job when I feel well enough to do so.

14. Have sermon notes available so I can listen later or even just review what I didn’t catch the first time.

15. Acknowledge National Invisible Chronic Illness Awareness Week. Rest Ministries has a nice book list of top 100 Christian books for the chronically ill. It would make a nice display in your bookstore that week.

16. Just mention chronic illness occasionally! Don’t forget to talk about it in sermons as one of the challenges many people face just like unemployment or divorce.

17. Have Christian volunteers from church that will clean house for small fee. Some have offered to clean my house, but I cannot accept charity yet, but neither can I afford to pay a regular house cleaning service.

18. Help with some of the small costs of providing encouraging books and resources for the church library the chronically ill can check out.

19. Remember how many caregivers are in the church, not just caregiving for their parents, but also for their spouses or ill children.

20. Have copies of sermons for free on CD or computer.

Find over 500 ways to encourage a chronically ill friend in the book “Beyond Casseroles: 505 Ways to Encourage a Chronically Ill Friend” at www.beyondcasseroles.com

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I know that some days can seem like more than you can handle. Remember that the Lord promises to never leave you or forsake you. Cling to that. Even when you don’t feel his presence He is still there. I tell my 6-year-old son that God is working “under cover.” I know I am each day, especially righr now!

Blessings,

Lisa Copen, Rest Ministries Founder
Rest Ministries Chronic Illness Pain Support

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