Pain Management in Hillman Cancer Center’s Patients Essay

Exclusively available on Available only on IvyPanda®
This academic paper example has been carefully picked, checked and refined by our editorial team.
You are free to use it for the following purposes:
  • To find inspiration for your paper and overcome writer’s block
  • As a source of information (ensure proper referencing)
  • As a template for you assignment

Pain is a common and crippling problem among the cancer patients (Hager & Brockopp, 2007, p. 3). A study conducted in the US showed that 25 percent of the newly diagnosed patients experienced pain, and this figure increased to over 90 percent of patients with advanced cancer. The study also established that many patients kept on experiencing pain even after effective treatment of cancer (American Pain Society, 2008, P.4). Pain in cancer patients has multi-dimensions; these are biological dimension, social dimension and psychological dimension. Social and psychological dimensions are normally witnessed at the advanced stage of cancer (Turk & Okifuji, 2002, p. 690).

Surgical and therapeutic approaches are considered to be the foundation of cancer treatment. Even though these approaches have proved to be useful, they also have their limitation. First of all, a number of patients experience irrepressible side effects limiting their ability to take medication. These approaches are also expensive and not as effective as one can think (Hager & Brockopp, 2007, p.6). Psychological interventions represent a value addition to the above approaches. Medical studies have found a strong correlation between cancer pain and psychological factors. Greater psychological well-being enhances self confidence and self efficacy in controlling pain among cancer patients. Psychological interventions are also effective in treating pain related to other diseases like arthritis (Turk & Okifuji, 2002, p. 692; Deandrea, 2008, p.1985). Depression with suicidal ideation is a life threatening condition. Even if the patient did not have suicidal thoughts, but tries to tolerate pain being depressed, then, the process is less effective because person has less energy to invest in physical fitness or other therapeutically significant aspects, and is likely not to comply with medication (Disorbio, Bruns & Barolat, 2006, 3).

Hillman Cancer Center is one of the leading facilities of cancer treatment and research located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. This center is considered to be a home to the world finest surgical, medical and radiation oncology specialists. The centre also boosts of advanced imaging technologies to identify and screen cancer. In addition, Hillman Cancer Center provides a wide range of service beyond clinical care, and it includes guidance and counseling, nutrition and genetic resources. These services are meant to help patients and their families to cope with cancer better (Hillman Cancer Centre, 2010, p. 2).

Psychological interventions for cancer patients in Hillman Cancer centre is carried out by clinical psychologists. Most of the clinical psychologists working in this centre holds doctoral degree in psychology and have huge experience as independent practitioners. However, there are a few of them with master’s degree but are pursuing Ph.D. The roles of clinical psychologists in this centre are mainly psychological assessment and psychotherapy. They also engage in psychological studies, counseling, teaching, development and administration of programs, and forensic testimony (Hillman Cancer Centre, 2010, p. 4; Disorbio, Bruns & Barolat, 2006, p.5).

Pain in cancer patients has multi-dimensions; these are biological, social and psychological dimensions. Medical and surgical approaches are considered to be the main ways for pain treatment in cancer patients. Advanced stages of cancer result into a multidimensional pain and are where the clinical psychologists step in. Hillman Cancer Center boosts of world class physicians and clinical psychologists. These psychologists play a significant role in the assessment and treatment of pain. Psychological approaches act as valuable addition to the medical and surgical approaches.

References

American Pain Society, (2008). Principles of analgesic use in the treatment of acute pain and cancer pain (6th ed). Glenview, IL: American Pain Society.

Deandrea, S., Montanari, M., Moja, L., & Apolone, G. (2008). Prevalence of under treatment in cancer pain. A review of published literature. Ann Oncology, 19(12), 1985-1991.

Disorbio, J.M., Bruns, D., & Barolat, G. (2006). Assessment and Treatment of Chronic Pain. Minneapolis: PPM communications Inc.

Hager, K.K., & Brockopp, D. (2007). Pilot project: the chronic pain diary – assessing chronic pain in the nursing home population. Journal Gerontology Nursing, 22, 14–19.

Hillman Cancer Centre. (2010). Hillman Cancer Center Brochure: University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. Web.

Turk, D.C., & Okifuji, A. (2002). Psychological factors in chronic pain: evolution and revolution. Journal clinical Psychology, 70, 678–690.

More related papers Related Essay Examples
Cite This paper
You're welcome to use this sample in your assignment. Be sure to cite it correctly

Reference

IvyPanda. (2022, April 22). Pain Management in Hillman Cancer Center's Patients. https://ivypanda.com/essays/pain-management-in-hillman-cancer-centers-patients/

Work Cited

"Pain Management in Hillman Cancer Center's Patients." IvyPanda, 22 Apr. 2022, ivypanda.com/essays/pain-management-in-hillman-cancer-centers-patients/.

References

IvyPanda. (2022) 'Pain Management in Hillman Cancer Center's Patients'. 22 April.

References

IvyPanda. 2022. "Pain Management in Hillman Cancer Center's Patients." April 22, 2022. https://ivypanda.com/essays/pain-management-in-hillman-cancer-centers-patients/.

1. IvyPanda. "Pain Management in Hillman Cancer Center's Patients." April 22, 2022. https://ivypanda.com/essays/pain-management-in-hillman-cancer-centers-patients/.


Bibliography


IvyPanda. "Pain Management in Hillman Cancer Center's Patients." April 22, 2022. https://ivypanda.com/essays/pain-management-in-hillman-cancer-centers-patients/.

If, for any reason, you believe that this content should not be published on our website, please request its removal.
Updated:
Privacy Settings

IvyPanda uses cookies and similar technologies to enhance your experience, enabling functionalities such as:

  • Basic site functions
  • Ensuring secure, safe transactions
  • Secure account login
  • Remembering account, browser, and regional preferences
  • Remembering privacy and security settings
  • Analyzing site traffic and usage
  • Personalized search, content, and recommendations
  • Displaying relevant, targeted ads on and off IvyPanda

Please refer to IvyPanda's Cookies Policy and Privacy Policy for detailed information.

Required Cookies & Technologies
Always active

Certain technologies we use are essential for critical functions such as security and site integrity, account authentication, security and privacy preferences, internal site usage and maintenance data, and ensuring the site operates correctly for browsing and transactions.

Site Customization

Cookies and similar technologies are used to enhance your experience by:

  • Remembering general and regional preferences
  • Personalizing content, search, recommendations, and offers

Some functions, such as personalized recommendations, account preferences, or localization, may not work correctly without these technologies. For more details, please refer to IvyPanda's Cookies Policy.

Personalized Advertising

To enable personalized advertising (such as interest-based ads), we may share your data with our marketing and advertising partners using cookies and other technologies. These partners may have their own information collected about you. Turning off the personalized advertising setting won't stop you from seeing IvyPanda ads, but it may make the ads you see less relevant or more repetitive.

Personalized advertising may be considered a "sale" or "sharing" of the information under California and other state privacy laws, and you may have the right to opt out. Turning off personalized advertising allows you to exercise your right to opt out. Learn more in IvyPanda's Cookies Policy and Privacy Policy.

1 / 1