A New Approach to Managing Cancer-Related Pain in the UK Pharma Sector
Cancer pain remains one of the most challenging aspects of cancer treatment, impacting the quality of life for countless patients. While medication can help, around 20% of cancer patients find little to no relief from traditional painkillers. This is where the innovative PAINLESS project steps in, aiming to offer a non-pharmacological solution to cancer-related pain in palliative care through home use of using cutting-edge neuromodulation techniques.
This therapy is now being tested in a multi-year study that started in March 2024.
What Is the PAINLESS Project?
PAINLESS is an international, multidisciplinary initiative that aims to better understand the mechanisms of cancer-related pain and provide an alternative to medication. The project is coordinated by the Universidade de Santiago de Compostela and involves over twenty institutions working together to develop a cost-effective, home-based pain management solution.
Why Is PAINLESS Important for Cancer Pain Management?
In the UK, cancer pain affects many patients, significantly impacting their wellbeing. While around 80% of individuals manage pain effectively with medication, 20% still struggle, necessitating alternative options. This is where PAINLESS seeks to make a difference by offering a non-invasive, safe, and innovative approach to pain relief.
How Does PAINLESS Work?
PAINLESS uses neuromodulation, specifically transcranial electric stimulation, to address pain. This method involves applying small electric currents through electrodes placed on the scalp, which gradually alters neural mechanisms linked to chronic pain. It’s a non-invasive, well-tolerated technique that has shown promise in providing pain relief over time.
Key Objectives of the PAINLESS Project:
Understanding Pain Mechanisms: Investigating how neuromodulation can enhance our understanding of cancer pain pathways.
Biomarker Development: Creating protocols to assess biomarkers related to central pain processing, offering a more targeted approach to treatment.
Testing Neuromodulation: Evaluating how transcranial electric stimulation can reduce pain symptoms and improve patients’ quality of life.
Home-Based Pain Management: Assessing the feasibility of using this treatment at home, making it accessible and convenient.
Analysing Influencing Factors: Examining how factors like age, sex, and cancer type affect pain mechanisms and responses to neuromodulation.
Evaluating Cost-Effectiveness: Determining the cost-effectiveness of the PAINLESS model to ensure it’s a viable option for healthcare providers.
Integration into Health Systems: Exploring how PAINLESS can be incorporated into European healthcare systems, including the NHS.
Why Should the UK Pharma Sector Take Notice?
The PAINLESS project represents an exciting development in the field of cancer care, offering a non-pharmacological, evidence-based treatment option for pain management. As the UK pharma sector increasingly focuses on personalised medicine and patient-centric care, initiatives like PAINLESS highlight the potential of alternative therapies to improve outcomes and reduce reliance on medication.
Looking Ahead: A Future with PAINLESS
If successful, the PAINLESS project could revolutionise how we manage cancer-related pain, providing patients with an accessible, cost-effective, and non-invasive treatment option. This could transform cancer care across the UK and Europe, offering hope to patients who have not found relief through conventional treatments.
Stay Updated on PAINLESS
As the PAINLESS project progresses, it will be interesting to see how this innovative approach could be integrated into mainstream cancer care, potentially becoming a standard treatment for those who need it most.
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