Episode 04 - Colon, Meet Cancer: Ouch!

Ben delves into the multifaceted experience of pain, beginning with a literary reference from Margaret Atwood. He shares personal anecdotes about blood draws, the insertion of a chemotherapy port, and the challenges of effectively communicating pain levels to healthcare professionals. Ben reflects on his nearly forty years’ experience living with Crohn's disease, exploring different ways to describe pain, and examines various strategies for pain management, including medications like acetaminophen and oxycodone, and the antidepressant duloxetine. The episode also highlights historical and cultural contexts of pain and invites listeners to contribute to a virtual medicine cabinet of motivational and entertaining resources. 00:00 Introduction and Literary Preface 01:34 Personal Anecdotes and Blood Tests 02:08 Chemotherapy Port Installation 05:31 Experiencing and Describing Pain 13:38 Pain Management Strategies 18:25 Upcoming Chemotherapy and Final Thoughts https://www.ninds.nih.gov/health-information/disorders/pain 💬 Join the Conversation How should people share their experiences of life-threatening disease? Share your thoughts in the comments! 🔔Subscribe & Stay Updated Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or your favorite podcast platform. Watch on YouTube & subscribe for more in-depth global health discussions: www.youtube.com/@shotarmpodcast