Pain Assessment of Lung Cancer Patients in the Emergency Department: A Case Report
10.5388/aon.2021.21.4.194
- Author:
Nayung YOUN
1
Author Information
1. Asan Medical Center, Cancer ER, Seoul, Korea
- Publication Type:Original Article
- From:Asian Oncology Nursing
2021;21(4):194-198
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
This case report aims to emphasize the importance of a differential diagnosis when patients complain about pain. Although pain is one of cancer patients’ most common physical symptoms, not all pain is due to cancer itself. Hence, nurses need to pay more attention to assessing pain accurately and making differential diagnoses that consider all possible causes. This case report concerns two patients diagnosed with Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC). One patient complained of localized right anterior chest pain triggered suddenly four days prior. Bone scan imaging taken four months prior showed a bone metastasis of the right anterior 4th rib correlating with the location of his pain. The second patient complained of right chest pain with cough, sputum, and dyspnea. Given his history of cancer that obstructed the right bronchus, causing right pneumothorax four years ago, structural and inflammatory causes should have been considered. In these two cases, chest pain was attributed to different factors requiring different treatment and nursing plans. To assess pain properly, nurses have to thoroughly examine patients through medical history and physical examination. Electronic medical records and recent test results should be obtained ‘as well’.
