• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.238-241
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• 1999

Intractable pain arising from disorders of the viscera and somatic structures within the pelvis and perineum often poses difficult problems for the pain pratitioner. The reason for this difficulty is that the region contains diverse anatomic structures with mixed somatic, visceral, and autonomic innervation affecting bladder and bowel control and sexual function. Clinically, sympathetic pain in the perineum has a distinctly vague, burning, and poorly localized quality and is frequently associated with the sensation of urgency. Although various approaches have been proposed for the management of intractable perineal pain, their efficacy and applications are limited. Historically, neurolytic blockade in this region has been focused mainly on somatic rather than sympathetic components. The efficacy of neurolytic ganglion impar block has been demonstrated in treating perineal pain without significant somatovisceral dysfunctions for patient with advanced cancer in 1990. The introduction of superior hypogastric plexus block in 1990 demonstrated its effectiveness in patients with cancer related pelvic pain. In our report, five patients had advanced cancer (rectal caner 3; cervix cancer 1; metastases to sacral portion of renal cell cancer 1). Localized perineal pain was present in all cases and was characterized as burning and urgent with 9~10/10 pain intensity. After neurolytic block of ganglion impar, patients experiened incomplete pain reduction (7~8/10), as determined by the VAS (visual analogue scale), and change in pain site. We then treated with superior hypogastric plexus block, which produced satisfactory pain relief (to less than 4/10), without complication.

• Sleep Medicine and Psychophysiology
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.10-15
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• 2009

Sleep problems and disorders are common in patients with cancer. Sleep of the cancer patients is affected by various factors, including thermoregulatory changes associated with chemotherapy and radiotherapy, cancer related symptoms, such as pain, fatigue, and emotional difficulties. As one of the most common symptoms in cancer patients, fatigue is positively correlated with sleep difficulties. Cytokine is also frequently associated with chemotherapy and radiotherapy. It provokes excessive daytime sleepiness and hypersomnia. Medications for controlling pain, depression, and anxiety can affect sleep of the cancer patients. Medications as well as behavior therapy are reported to be effective for controlling sleep problems, and the physicians need to be accustomed to use the modalities appropriately. This paper reviews causative factors, evaluation, and management of sleep problems and disorders, experienced by cancer patients.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.1905-1909
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• 2013

Objective: The aim of the current study was to evaluate changes in treatment outcomes in terms of health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and symptom burden at zero, one, three, and six months after an initial diagnosis of colorectal cancer. The demographic and clinical characteristics that account for outcome changes in patients were investigated using a repeated measures framework. Methods and Materials: A cohort study was performed of 134 colorectal cancer patients followed from diagnosis to 6 months post-treatment in Central Taiwan. HRQoL and symptoms were assessed at diagnosis and one, three, and six months thereafter. The Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Colon (FACT-C) questionnaire, VAS pain, and the Memorial Symptom Assessment Scale (MSAS) were used for data collection. A generalized estimating equation (GEE) was applied for statistical analysis. Results: The majority of the patients were male (55%) and married (91.5%). The mean age was 60.4 years (SD = 11.71). Most were diagnosed stage III and IV colorectal cancer (54.5%). All underwent surgery; some also received chemotherapy (CT) or concurrent chemoradiation therapy (CCRT). The results of the GEE showed that overall, the HRQoL, pain, and symptoms of the patients significantly improved over the treatment period. Patients with stage IV disease who had received surgery and CCRT showed the worst HRQoL. Females, patients with comorbidity, and stage IV patients had higher pain scores over time. Female and stage IV patients had more severe physical symptoms, whereas stage II and IV patients had worse psychological symptoms over time. Conclusion: The patients' HRQoL, pain, and symptoms significantly improved over the 6-month treatment period. Certain patient and clinical variables accounted for changes in treatment outcomes regarding HRQoL and symptom burden in colorectal cancer patients.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.153-161
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• 2013

PURPOSE: This study aimed to investigate the effect of complex theraputic exercise on visual analog scale of pain, shoulder' range of motion for middle-aged women with breast cancer related lymphedema. METHODS: The 14 middle-aged women involved voluntary in this study and then they were divided into two groups(n =7 per group). The complex exercise program was implemented over 4 weeks, 60 minutes per day, with 3 types of exercise for stimulation whereas the control group was performed a classical decongestive physiotherapy in a same day. For data analysis, the mean and standard deviation were estimated; 2 way repeated measures ANOVA was carried out. RESULTS: First, The level of VAS was significantly reduced on time, interaction effect in the group. Second, most factors of ROM were significantly increased on time, interaction effect whereas extension was not significantly increased. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, Our results showed that complex therapeutic exercise could improve or maintain VAS and ROM of shoulder joint for middle-aged women with breast cancer related lymphedema.

• Journal of Korean Traditional Oncology
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.9-15
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• 2013

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to report the effect of Korean medicine on the pancreatic carcinoma patient. Method : A patient was diagnosed as unresectable pancreatic carcinoma. She complained insomnia, abdominal pain, dyspepsia and sleep disturbance. She was treated by Korean medicine composed of acupuncture, herbal medication and wild ginseng pharmacopuncture. Results : All symptoms took a favorable turn after Korean medicine treatment. As treatment was performed, as intensity of pain, insomnia, dyspepsia and fatigue were decreased. Conclusion : This study suggests that Korean medicine treatment has effectiveness for improvement of cancer related symptoms of a pancreatic carcinoma patient. Consequently, the treatment is helpful in improving quality of life.

• Journal of Korean Traditional Oncology
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.53-59
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• 2009

Background & Objective: Regardless of types of cancer, cancer pain means the pain occurred by tumor itself, caused by complication or side effects during treatment and which is neither directly related to tumor nor treatment. This case was performed to relieve the cancer pain and study the effect of moxibustion to the cancer pain. Method: For 27 days, the patient was treated by moxibustion($MANINA^{(R)}$), acupuncture, herbal medicine and narcotic analgesics. We planned to maintain moxibustion on 8 points of Bladder meridian line(BL13, BL17, BL42, BL43) for 20 minutes. The improvement of the symptom was evaluated by BPI/VAS, and the amount of narcotic analgesics applied. Results: The BPI/VAS was declined and amount of applying narcotic analgesics was decreased. Conclusion: It is suggested that moxibustion on BL13, BL17, BL42, BL43 is useful to relief of cancer pain in left flank area.

• Journal of Korean Clinical Nursing Research
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.123-132
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• 2009

Purpose: This study was conducted to identify the effects of provision of a cancer pain guideline and education for patients with cancer and their families on their knowledge and attitude toward cancer pain control. Method: A nonequivalent control group pre-post test design was used. The participants were selected according to a selection criteria from patients and their families on the medical ward at K university hospital in D city. Both the experimental group for patients with cancer and control group consisted of 16 patients and their families. Results: The first hypothesis, which assumed that there was a difference between the patients in the experimental group and the control group on knowledge (t=-20.006, p=.000) and attitude (t=-13.492, p=.000), was accepted. The second hypothesis, which assumed there was a difference between families in the experimental group and the control group on knowledge (t=-16.087, p=.000) and attitude (t=-10.262, p=.000), was supported. Conclusion: Education for cancer related pain control with a patient guideline had a positive effect on knowledge and attitude of patients with cancer patients and their families suggesting that there is a need to developed this type of guidelines.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.99-102
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• 1992

Severe intractable pain with paresthesia and severe dyspnea produced by lung cancer involving both brachial plexuses, refractory to ordinary pharmacologic approaches, was managed by epidural morphine and bupivacaine administration with the continuous Baxter infusion system. Chest pain, which is somatic pain in character, was well managed with the epidural morphine and bupivacaine administrations. However paresthesia and tingling sensation of the hand and forearm were poorly controlled by epidural morphine, and were finally managed by bolus epidural injections of bupivacaine. Supportive therapy included epidural steroid injection and TENS, but the effect was not satisfactory. Severe dyspnea seemed to aggrevate cancer related pain.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.119-131
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• 2024

There are growing concerns regarding the safety of long-term treatment with opioids of patients with chronic non-cancer pain. In 2017, the Korean Pain Society (KPS) developed guidelines for opioid prescriptions for chronic non-cancer pain to guide physicians to prescribe opioids effectively and safely. Since then, investigations have provided updated data regarding opioid therapy for chronic non-cancer pain and have focused on initial dosing schedules, reassessment follow-ups, recommended dosage thresholds considering the risk-benefit ratio, dose-reducing schedules for tapering and discontinuation, adverse effects, and inadvertent problems resulting from inappropriate application of the previous guidelines. Herein, we have updated the previous KPS guidelines based on a comprehensive literature review and consensus development following discussions among experts affiliated with the Committee on Hospice and Palliative Care in the KPS. These guidelines may assist physicians in prescribing opioids for chronic non-cancer pain in adult outpatient settings, but should not to be regarded as an inflexible standard. Clinical judgements by the attending physician and patient-centered decisions should always be prioritized.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.209-216
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• 2007

Objectives : To review and summarize the existing evidence on acupuncture treatment for cancer and cancer related symptoms. Methods: Literature searches were made through domestic and international databases. Data were extracted according to pre-defined criteria. The methodological quality was assessed using the Modified Jadad scale. Results: Seven studies were included. Two of the studies were high in methodological quality. One study concerning acupuncture treatment for cancerous dyspnea reported insignificant differences between the treatment group and placebo group. The other study concerning auricular acupuncture for cancer related pain showed significant pain relief compared with the control group. All the other studies were non-blinded or uncontrolled trials. Conclusion : The hypothesis that acupuncture may be effective for the treatment of cancer is not supported by the data in recent clinical trials. More accurately designed randomized control trials (RCT) are needed.