Treating symptoms and providing comfort care have always had a low priority. Over the last decade this reality has lead to the formation of state pain initiatives. A cooperative effort among physicians, nurses, pharmacists and other health professions is directed to the improvement of pain control. Originated in Wisconsin, the movement has now extended to almost every state in the United States. The West Virginia Cancer Pain Initiative was founded in March 1996 by a group of concerned individuals who have an overall plan of providing cooperative educational effort dedicated to the development of programs to improve the recognition and management of cancer pain.
Cancer pain is often under treated.
Hospice of Huntington plans to work locally as well as on the state-wide level to improve cancer pain relief in West Virginia. It is unethical to allow persons with relievable cancer pain to suffer. Most cancer-related pain can be relieved by existing medications and therapies. Eighty to Ninety percent of cancer pain can be relieved with the right drug in the right dosage at the right time. Pain control efforts should start immediately while other treatments such as surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy are underway.