Neoplasms and Pain

Question 1

Causes of pain

Answer 1

Inflammation, infection, ischemia and tissue necrosis, stretching of tissue, stretching of tendons, ligaments, or joint capsule, chemicals burns, muscle spasms

Question 2

Types of pain

Answer 2

Somatic (skin), visceral (organs), neuropathic (injury to peripheral or central nervous system)

Question 3

Pain pathway

Answer 3

Stimulus-nociceptor-peripheral nerve-dorsal ganglion-dorsal root-synapse-spinal decussation-lateral spinothalamic tract-raticular activation system-thalamus-somatosensory cortex (parietal)-hypothalamus-limbic system

Question 4

Physiology of pain: Gate control theory

Answer 4

Control systems, gates built into normal pain pathways
can modify pain stimuli conduction and transmissions in the spinal cord and brain
gates open equals pain travels from peripheral nerves to spinothalamic track up to the brain
gates closed equals reduces or modifies pain

Question 5

Factors that influence pain experience

Answer 5

Pain threshold: level of stimuli required to activate pain
Pain tolerance: ability to cope with pain
Pain perception: subjective but can be compared from day to day in same person

Question 6

Benign versus malignant tumours

Answer 6

Benign: differentiated cells that reproduce at a higher rate than normal, encapsulated, expands but doesn’t spread, tissue damage
Malignant: undifferentiated and non-functional cells, rapid reproduction an abnormal mitotic figures, infiltrate or spread in the surrounding tissues, spread to distant sites

Question 7

Warning signs of cancer

Answer 7

Unusual bleeding or discharge anywhere in the body, changing bladder or bowel habits, a change in wart or mole, a sore that doesn’t heal, unexplained weight loss, anaemia or low haemoglobin and persistent fatigue, persistent cough or hoarseness without reason, a solid lump (often painless) in the breast or testes or anywhere in the body

Question 8

Local effects of tumours

Answer 8

Pain, obstruction (to blood flow, air ways, or digestive tract), tissue necrosis and ulceration

Question 9

Systemic effects of tumours

Answer 9

Weight loss and cachexia, anemia, severe fatigue, effusions (inflammation causes fluid buildup in body cavities), infections, bleeding, paraneoplastic syndrome (tumour release substance that affect neurological function and may have a hormonal affect)