Mesothelioma sufferers are becoming increasingly common across the world. In all its various forms it has proven to be a deadly disease most of the time it is diagnosed. From 1999 to 2010 there were over 31,000 mesothelioma deaths in the US. And this number is expected to increase as time goes on.
The reason for this is that the mesothelioma latency period can be as long as 50 years. Unbearable pain is a common side effect of being diagnosed with mesothelioma.
Doctors are already working on pain relievers for sufferers. These are just some of them.
UKH-1114
Doctors have recently started studying the experimental drug UKH-1114 to see if can help with the more deadly cancers like mesothelioma. It was tested on mice and a single dose lasted for days, as opposed to hours normally.
The potential for this drug is incredible. A single dose, which would be more cost-effective for cancer sufferers, would provide pain relief for an extended period of time.
Human trials have yet to be conducted, but the tests on mice indicate a breakthrough for what could be the new wonder drug for mesothelioma sufferers.
Fluoxetine
Fluoxetine may be sold under the common brand name of Prozac. Most people associate it with treating depression. That’s important for cancer sufferers. It’s not uncommon for cancer sufferers to have to deal with chronic depression on top of their conditions.
But this medication has also been proven to help with nerve damage. This is where the majority of pain comes from and by dulling the nerves it can deliver pain relief.
Gabapentin
This pain reliever was originally developed to help sufferers of epilepsy. Scientists found that it was also effective at stopping neuropathic pain.
It was eventually employed to help cancer sufferers who were experiencing neuropathic pain. This type of pain commonly surfaces after mesothelioma surgery, so it can be used effectively to help patients deal with chronic pain.
Pregabalin
Pregabalin is an alternative to Gabapentin for those patients who prefer to take oral medications. It’s also useful for people who have experienced problems with opioids in the past.
This medication is not an opioid and can only be taken orally. It does mean that mesothelioma patients who’re having problems eating may struggle to digest it. But it can be used at all stages of the cancer process safely.
Prednisone
A common side effect of mesothelioma is a feeling of nausea and regular vomiting, particularly after receiving some types of medications. Prednisone has been shown to be highly effective at treating cancer patients with a constant feeling of nausea.
It’s also effective at treating any allergic reactions to other drugs.
Last Word – Dealing with All Types of Pain
There are lots of different types of pain a person with mesothelioma may suffer from. That can make it seem as if the pain is never going to end. With a large range of medications available, you should talk to your doctor about all the possible options to make sure you’re not suffering unnecessarily.
Paul Kraus, the world’s longest mesothelioma survivor, understands the need to be able to battle against the pain created by the disease. He welcomes the advances being made in the drugs available to sufferers as well as advancements in alternative therapies. He writes about his disease peritoneal mesothelioma on his site here: https://survivingmesothelioma.com/mesothelioma/peritoneal/ and also offers a host of resources on treatments, pain relief and up to date news regarding progress in beating the disease.
You should always make sure to talk to your doctor before taking any form of prescription or non-prescription medications. Sometimes drugs can interact with each other. All medication should be agreed with your medical team.
Are you experiencing problems with pain and mesothelioma?
