When we started working globally in 2020, we realised just how many patients are not receiving effective pain relief medication. Patients in low- and middle-income countries do not always have the financial means to buy medicines to relieve pain and they are sometimes dying in extreme pain.
This is not necessary and can be changed.
We can do better!
One of our patient advocates is an experienced anaesthesiologist associated with an academic medical centre in the Netherlands. He treats cancer patients suffering from pain, especially that which is caused by inflammation, using a well-known, safe, cheap and effective medicine i.e., Lidocaine. In addition to its painkilling qualities, Lidocaine also decreases inflammation which can be the cause of pain, not only in cancer, but also in sickle cell disease for example. As 50% of the cancers are, according to our ambassador and Nobel Prize winner, professor Zurhausen.
Lidocaine is safe, cheap and effective so it can easily be used all over the globe. Pain management is an important part of the Inspire2Live vision on dealing with cancer globally, otherwise known as ‘bottom-up cancer support’.