Women with incurable breast cancer are needlessly suffering pain in their last months of life.
Some are left in agony for years even though treatments are available, the charity Breast Cancer Care has warned.
Its
poll of more than 200 women with incurable cancer found 90 per cent
were often in pain. More than half (59 per cent) suffered every day.
If the results are mirrored across all breast cancer patients, more than 32,000 women will be affected.
Dr
Emma Pennery, Breast Cancer Care’s clinical director, said that
although pain cannot be eliminated in all cases, prompt referral to a
specialist boosts the odds of relief.
But
she said pain relief may be overlooked because doctors are so focused
on treating the cancer. Some medics also wrongly associate palliative
care – the management of symptoms and pain – only with the very end of
life, but help can be given much earlier.
A breast mammogram given to women who are screened for cancer: today is Secondary Breast Cancer Awareness Day
Some
women with advanced breast cancer live for years, during which they can
be in agony. Even simple tasks such as picking up a handbag can cause
searing pain. Others experience constant flu-like symptoms.
But as many as 41 per cent of those polled had never been offered palliative care.
Today,
on Secondary Breast Cancer Awareness Day, the charity is calling on
doctors to tell women about pain relief as soon as they are diagnosed.
On Secondary Breast Cancer Awareness Day women are encouraged to check their breasts for unusual lumps or differences
Dr
Pennery said: ‘Palliative care can have a significant impact on quality
of life and can really help to alleviate suffering. Sadly, palliative
care teams tell us some of their referrals are for breast cancer
patients who are within a few weeks of death.
‘By that stage, it is too late to intervene as effectively.
‘Developments
in treatment mean people are living with secondary breast cancer for
longer, therefore it’s vital that healthcare professionals are equipped
with the knowledge they need to offer appropriate symptom management.
'No one should live with unnecessary pain or without the information they need to make decisions about their own health.’
Many women are put off by the connotations of death surrounding palliative care, which is usually provided by hospices.
Some 70 per cent of the women polled did not know palliative care does not need to be limited to the very end of life.
Eleanor
Meade, 56, from Kent, who was diagnosed with incurable breast cancer
six years ago, said: ‘When I was first diagnosed I had never heard of
palliative care. I had no idea what it meant. I was very afraid of the
hospice.
‘I
had absolutely no idea they weren’t for the very end of life. But they
were able to alleviate some of my most troubling and distressing
symptoms.
‘I
only heard about it by speaking to other women with secondary breast
cancer and I feel that’s unacceptable. I needed it much sooner than
that.’
Diana
Jupp of Breast Cancer Care said: ‘This survey shows just how many
secondary breast cancer patients are struggling on in excruciating pain
because of a lack of timely access to palliative care. This is
absolutely unacceptable.’
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