PAINS Update

Myra ChristopherRaising Pain AwarenessPenney Cowan has lived with chronic pain for most of her life and is the Founder of the American Chronic Pain Association. Her advocacy work is peppered with the creation of innovative projects and programs. Perhaps, one of the most powerful of her ideas was establishing September as Pain Awareness Month in 2001.  This September will mark the fifteenth anniversary of Pain Awareness Month. That it has endured over time is remarkable given all the other causes that vie for public attention. However, in my opinion, it has never reached its potential.  It was my privilege to be one of those involved in establishing a Kansas City Affiliate of the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure®; yesterday marked the 20th anniversary of the Kansas City Race. Each year, thousands of breast cancer survivors, their friends, family and others walk and run to raise public awareness and resources to support multiple organizations in our community that advocate for those diagnosed with breast cancer. Yesterday nearly ten thousand people participated in the Race in Kansas City, and there are now Komen Races in more than 140 communities across the country. Chronic pain is worthy of at least as much public attention as is breast cancer, and I think I could make an argument that it is worthy of even more attention.It is estimated that one in eight women in the U.S. will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime.  One in three Americans live w...
Source: blog.bioethics.net - Category: Medical Ethics Authors: Tags: Health Care American Chronic Pain Association National Pain Strategy Report Pain Awareness Month syndicated Source Type: blogs