Treating types of cancer

As you can see from our previous blogs, TENS treatment is thought to deal with a variety of cancer pains. To make a well-rounded conclusion on the benefits, we researched a number of studies looking at the patient’s responses to the treatments on different cancers, specifically breast and bone cancer. As well as an interesting topic, it was insightful to look into the pain responses of different people and how they responded to TENS after intense chemo, radiation or surgery.

We viewed this research in a way as to determine whether TENS improved the quality of life in the patients. As the palliative cancer patients and their families know they are unlikely to recover from the disease, therefore their remaining time should be as pain free as possible. If there is a chance of recovery, we believe their energy should be focused on fighting the disease rather than focusing on the pain.

The two most reported causes of cancer pain are pain radiating from the cancer itself and pain following chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatments. Although insufficient evidence has been obtained, research shows that TENS can help reduce side effects and the pain associated with a variety of cancers, improving their quality of life. This is incredibly important to those suffering from cancer, especially the terminally ill.

The use of non-pharamolgical interventions such as TENS, as a multidisciplinary treatment can reduce pain in cancer patients. Although insufficient trials have been studied to provide evidence of the possible side effects and long-term use of TENS on patients, many in palliative care consider pain relief and quality of life the higher priority.

An excellent randomized controlled trial conducted by Karen Robb, has identified the improved quality of life, due to decreased anxiety and pain in women diagnosed with breast cancer. She shows how many women who undergo treatment and are diagnosed with the disease have reported feeling that their pain has not been completely recognized or treated. Not only do these women suffer from the pain of the surgery but also secondary pain due to oedema, sensory disturbances, anxiety and depression, with many refusing pharmalogical medication due to the fear of unwanted side effects.

This is the reason why using TENS is an appealing alternative treatment, with a decrease in the overall pain and side effects in patients undergoing chemotherapy. Its use is said to increase the release of beta-endorphins in the body. These endorphins have an analgesic effect, numbing or dulling pains in the effected areas.  The best results however, are found when combining both pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatments.

In some instances TENS treatment is preferred: similar pain relief is found with limited side effects. One of these side effects of the cancer and its chemotherapy is nausea and vomiting. Research has shown that ALTENS can help significantly reduce these symptoms by inhibiting gastric acid secretion and normalising gastric dysrhythmia. As a cancer patient, reducing these symptoms will dramatically improve their quality of life, a major factor that we believe most, if not all patients would happily welcome.

Another prevalent type of cancer that uses TENS as a treatment option is bone cancer. Bone metastases are common, difficult to treat and the most painful cancer-related pain. These factors are all responsible for reducing a person’s quality of life. Many available treatment options have significant side effects and are currently not considered universally effective. Research has said that by stimulating the fibres, hyperexcitability is reduced as well as dorsal horn changes, decreasing the perception of pain. However, sufficient evidence is still lacking to completely understand the benefits of treating bone cancer and its symptoms with a TENS machine.

The main disadvantage found in trials, and personal outcomes of TENS machine use, was the fact that the benefits were only temporary. It is not designed for total, long lasting pain relief, but considering the immense pain that cancer patients undergo every single day, any relief would be accepted with open arms. Also considering that TENS use is simple, portable and cheap, this disadvantage is not that clinically important because it is so easy to apply multiple treatments to increase the pain relief duration.

Through research, many papers found that the use of TENS machine as treatment was more effective in certain areas of the body. The upper extremity was shown to suppress pain more effectively than the lower extremity, with the truncal region showing the greatest reduction in pain. This is one reason why we would recommend treatment for those displaying symptoms from breast cancer. Some cancers however cannot or are difficult to control through the use of TENS. No evidence has been found to show pain relief or reduction in symptoms with cancers occurring in the pelvic region. Treatment with TENS for cancers in the head and neck are also discouraged and seen as a contraindication as this treatment is considered dangerous, with application putting the coratid sinus at risk. 

Palliative care however is not just restricted to cancer patients. A study by Hall and Sykes, outlines the similar principles for pain reduction on non-malignant diseases. These studies show that cardiac failure and COPD patients, surveyed similar pain intensities to those with cancer and therefore should be considered for TENS treatment.