The battle after the war

Going through cancer treatment can seem like a war. My colon was the battlefield and I almost lost that fight had it not been for the intervention of the great people within the NHS, but even after I had won the war another battle erupted down my right leg, left foot and right arm and hand. For those living in the UK, the diagnosis of cancer carries with it not only a fight for life, but often a fight with long-term adverse effects of cancer treatments. One of the most common conditions faced by UK cancer survivors is neuropathic pain, the result of damage to the nervous system and the delicate equilibrium of body and mind. I know all too well, I am suffering from extensive and chronic nerve damage.

Cancer Survivors: Fighting the Pain Together

It’s estimated that around 1 in 4 of all cancer survivors in the UK suffer from some form of neuropathic pain, a condition which is often misunderstood and undertreated. Sufferers of neuropathic pain often experience a wide range of symptoms ranging from burning sensations and shooting pains, to numbness and tingling. Unfortunately, many UK cancer survivors feel that they must battle this pain alone, as the condition is still largely misunderstood and under-reported in the UK. When I a woke from having emergency surgery to remove the tumour from my colon, I was greeted by a tingling sensation in my right foot. Shortly after the tingling feeling became a shooting pain up my right leg and when I complained to my Consultant and Surgeon I was told ‘it is normal’ and ‘I can walk it off’. After I was discharged and sent to rehab I was told it was ‘in my head’.

However, the situation is slowly changing, with many cancer survivors in the UK coming together to share their knowledge and experiences of neuropathic pain. Through social media campaigns, support groups and charity events, UK cancer survivors are seeing that they are not alone on this journey.

Helping Cancer Survivors Overcome Neuropathic Pain

Fortunately, there are now many options available to cancer survivors in the UK who are suffering from neuropathic pain–from medicines and treatments to lifestyle advice and counselling. For example, many UK cancer survivors have found relief in exercise and therapies such as yoga, meditation and massage. Other strategies such as cognitive behavioural therapy can help to reduce the negative impact of neuropathic pain, by helping the sufferer to recognise and change their thought patterns.

The UK government is also doing its part to help cancer survivors cope with neuropathic pain. A recent study by the National Institute for Health Research has shown that UK cancer survivors are benefitting from greater access to mental health support, including psychological therapies and counselling. This is an important step in helping cancer survivors in the UK to manage the long-term effects of neuropathic pain.

Neuropathic pain can be a difficult condition to live with. Fortunately, UK cancer survivors are becoming increasingly aware of the various treatments, therapies and support services available to them. The fight against neuropathic pain is one that they don’t have to face alone, and the strength and resilience of the UK cancer community is a shining example of hope and determination.