PAIN & PALLIATIVE CARE

Volume : VII, Issue : X, October - 2018

Dr Swarnalatha Mc, Dr Ramakrishna Hk

Cancer incidence is rising every day. Initially, patients are offered curative treatment in the form of surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy etc... At

certain point of the course of the disease, both patient and doctor realise that curative treatment is no longer useful and death is inevitable. Many

times they leave the patient to suffer. Patients are frequently exhausted economically, physically and emotionally. They need lot of psychological

and economical support. A holistic approach is needed. Lot of misconceptions surrounds morphine‘s use which leads to gross underutilization of

this drug. This article highlights various aspects of palliative care and use of morphine for pain relief.