Chronic post cancer treatment pain – how can we increase unity across pathways?

Armoogum, Julie; Llewellyn, Alison; Harcourt, Diana; Foster, Claire; McCabe, Candy

Abstract

Background: Chronic post cancer treatment pain is pain that persists or recurs for longer than three months and is caused by surgery, chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy . It can occur months or years after cancer treatment has finished. Limited knowledge is known about cancer survivors’ experiences of chronic post cancer treatment pain. A series of studies sought to identify experiences of cancer survivors’ living with chronic post cancer treatment pain and consider how their experiences can be improved.
Method: Four studies were conducted: 1) Qualitative evidence synthesis, using a thematic synthesis methodology 2) Qualitative study with cancer survivors living with chronic post cancer treatment pain, analysed using Braun and Clarkes reflexive thematic analysis 3) Survey to establish healthcare professional knowledge, understanding and confidence 4) Series of expert review panels to refine recommendations.
Findings: Cancer survivors encountered unclear and limited pathways for support and often bounced from one support team to another. Identifying and accessing services was a challenge, and survivors felt responsibility of this was often left to them. Diagnosis and explanation of chronic post cancer treatment pain was helpful to cope with and manage pain. Healthcare professionals had limited knowledge and understanding of chronic post cancer treatment pain. Almost a quarter reported they rarely or never talked to people living with and beyond cancer about chronic post cancer treatment pain. Barriers included ‘Lack of knowledge, ‘Limited service provision’, ‘Conflict between services’, ‘Not my role’ and ‘Challenges in diagnosing chronic pain in cancer survivors’. Complexity and challenge of where support services sit was acknowledged by all expert review panels.
Conclusions: There is a lack of unity across cancer care pathways for cancer survivors living chronic post cancer treatment pain. Final recommendations include PAINS: P: Prepare, A: Acknowledge and listen, I: Increase healthcare professional education, N: Name and diagnose, S: Signpost to support and rehabilitation.

• Presentation Conference Type: Poster
• Conference Name: UKONS
• Start Date: Nov 17, 2023
• End Date: Nov 18, 2023
• Publication Date: Nov 19, 2023
• Deposit Date: Nov 13, 2023
• Publicly Available Date: Dec 20, 2023
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/11444764