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LIFE BEFORE DEATH #9 -- Cancer Pain

Posted by Greg Schneider on July 20, 2011 at 7:12am
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Tags: morphine, neuropathy, "pain relief", opioid, opiophobia
Short Film 9 of 50 in the LIFE Before Death documentary series about the global crisis in untreated pain and the dramatic life changing effect palliative care services can deliver to patients and their families around the world. In this Short Film we discover that cancer is the most feared disease and the problem of cancer pain is an escalating problem worldwide. "Studies in a number of countries have shown when you ask people what disease worries them most if they thought they had it, cancer is streets ahead of anything else," reports Professor David Hill (Australia). Over 12 million people are likely to be diagnosed with cancer this year alone and 7 million will die of the disease. Cancer kills more people than AIDS and tuberculosis combined. "There are at least 5 million people who die of cancer each year with untreated pain," states Dr Kathleen Foley (USA). "We think this is an underestimate of pain in the world because there are 12 million survivors of cancer, people living with cancer, and we know about a third of them experience pain." Dr Eva Rossina Duarte Juarez (Guatemala) agrees that cancer is indeed painful. "In the situation of advanced illnesses, people need to be able to die in peace." Breast cancer patient Carmen (Australia) reflects that she doesn't fear death however she did fear the essential medications designed to treat her cancer pain. "I had a lot of pain on every level, whether it was physical or emotional." Dr Mark Boughey (Australia) of Caritas Christi Hospice in Melbourne explains, "When Carmen got here pain was the big issue... She had that really problematic neuropathic pain so you couldn't even touch her skin without her screaming and being distressed." "This problem is very much with us, it's a global problem, but also there are things we can do to bring the escalating problem of cancer under control," Professor David Hill. Carmen reflects that professional treatment of her pain brought back her sanity and quality of life. "I'm very blessed to have had this opportunity ... I've had really good care." Featuring Professor David Hill (Australia), Dr Kathleen Foley (USA), Dr Eva Rossina Duarte Juarez (Guatemala), Dr Mark Boughey (Australia), Carmen (Australia). LIFE Before Death will include 50 short films themed around pain control and end of life issues, releasing one a week for a year from May 2011. A feature film will be released in late 2011, followed by the release of a television documentary in early 2012. The project is presented by the Lien Foundation and produced by Moonshine Movies. It is also supported by the International Association for the Study of Pain, The Mayday Fund, the Union for International Cancer Control and The Institute for Palliative Medicine at San Diego Hospice International Programs. To Share Your Story visit www.TreatThePain.com

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