Do You Have Cancer Pain? Please Take Our Survey

APF is committed to reaching out to our members to help us better understand how your pain affects your daily life. Some of you live with pain as a result of cancer and its treatment, whether you are an active patient or a cancer survivor. At APF, we would like to know your perspective on cancer breakthrough pain, its impact on your life and the kind of information that would help you the most. Breakthrough pain is sudden, temporary flares of severe pain that emerges despite taking long acting pain medication on a regularly basis; it can occur spontaneously or in relation to a specific activity. Please take a quick moment and complete our What I Needed to Know about Breakthrough Cancer Pain Survey. Your insight will help us so that we may better serve you.

APF Receives Transfer of Key Assets from National Pain Foundation

Today the American Pain Foundation announced that it is accepting a gracious offer from the National Pain Foundation of a transfer of key assets. This transfer, which includes web content, program and membership materials, a pain health care provider directory, and the John C. Oakley Memorial Fund, will occur over the next six months with an anticipated completion date of May 2010, at which point the National Pain Foundation will cease all operations. 

“We are honored to be the repository of important program materials and resources that have been designed to serve people with pain and their loved ones.  The National Pain Foundation’s efforts and hard work will live on at the American Pain Foundation.  These materials will complement existing American Pain Foundation materials without being redundant, and we look forward to featuring them on our website over the coming months,” said Will Rowe, CEO, American Pain Foundation.  Read full press release.

APF Recognizes the Outstanding Leadership and Advocacy Efforts Made in Advancing Rights of People with Pain

The American Pain Foundation (APF) commemorated the outstanding efforts made to improve pain management and treatment for the more than 76.5 million Americans who are living in chronic pain by hosting an awards luncheon held at the Newseum in Washington, DC.  A number of awards recognized and honored individuals and organizations who champion the improvement of pain care in America.

Presidential Commendations were presented to First Lady Michelle Obama and Cindy Steinberg, who is APF’s Pain Community Advisory Council’s representative to the Board of Directors, Power Over Pain Action Network Leader for Massachusetts, Northeast Director of the American Chronic Pain Association and Legislative Chair of the Massachusetts Pain Initiative.  The Public Service Award was presented to the Honorable Orrin Hatch (UT); the James N. Campbell Creative Leadership Award was presented to the Trustees of the Mayday Fund; the Media Award was presented to Susan Dentzer, Editor-in-Chief, Health Affairs: The Policy Journal of the Health Sphere; and the Patient Advocate Award was presented to Navy Corpsman and APF’s Amputee Outreach Program Advocate, Derek McGinnis.  Read more>>

APF Endorses New Report Calling for Urgent Medical Training and Health System Reform on Pain

In an effort to urge the medical community, government agencies and Congress to address the inefficiencies in chronic pain care and treatment, the American Pain Foundation (APF) along with more than 30 other organizations endorsed a new report released by the Mayday Fund, A Call to Revolutionize Chronic Pain Care in America:  An Opportunity in Health Care Reform calling for urgent medical training and health care reform on pain.  The press conference was led by APF board members Russell Portenoy, MD, Lonnie Zeltzer, MD, and California Power Over Pain Action Network leader, Gina Libby.  APF CEO Will Rowe and several other members of the Board of Directors were a part of the special committee to develop the recommendations.  The full report is available>>

November is National Family Caregivers Month

APF, along with numerous national organizations, major corporations and community-based groups around the country, honors our nation’s family caregivers and celebrates National Family Caregivers Month in November to thank, educate, support and empower family caregivers. The National Family Caregivers Association will be hosting a free national teleclass/webinar on November 12 at 2:00pm EST called Safe & Sound: How to Prevent Medication Mishaps. The program is designed to teach family caregivers what they can do to minimize the chances that their loved one will experience an adverse drug reaction or event. Please read more or sign up now!

Pain Research & Practice Update

NEW! APF is proud to announce the launch of a new publication. This newsletter translates some of the latest pain research and management practices presented at select scientific meetings, as well as those published in reputable medical journals. The Update will feature Q&A-style articles on emerging and promising areas of pain research and other hot topics and showcase the accomplishments of up-and-coming researchers and treatment clinics. Read the Research & Practice Update now.

APF Opens Online Publication Store and Invites the Public to Come Shopping!

Whether you buy one item or order in bulk for your office, medical facility or local library, our new store is easy to use and includes a growing number of materials you can trust. Spread the word to your healthcare providers, colleagues and local hospitals. Proceeds from the purchase of APF publications will help advance our mission and allow for the development, printing and distribution of important publications that improve the lives of people living with pain. Please make a difference and order today! Note: While not all of our publications are available in print in the online store at this time, you can view and download all of our publications without creating a log in.

Exit Wounds is Now Available!

The American Pain Foundation (APF) is pleased to announce the release of Iraq War Veteran and Pain Advocate Derek McGinnis’ first book, Exit Wounds:  A Survival Guide to Pain Management for Returning Veterans and Their Families.  Exit Wounds is both a guide to pain management for veterans and their family members and also the inspiring story of how one man, with the support of his family and fellow veterans fought to survive and even thrive despite his traumatic injuries.  To read an excerpt of Exit Wounds or to learn more on where you can obtain a copy, click here.  Read press release.

Survey Reveals Economic Recession Contributes to Acute Pain

A new survey from the American Pain Foundation (APF) indicates that 68 percent of people who have experienced acute back pain or other minor muscle strains and sprains in the past year feel that the recession has caused, increased or affected their pain.  Learn more about how these tough economic times have been affecting people struggling with acute pain by reading the APF press release and executive summary.  Review some useful tips in preventing strains and sprains in two newly created pamphlets.  Turning up the Heat on Acute Pain: Preventing Strains and Sprains in the Warm Weather and Putting the Freeze on Acute Pain: Preventing Strains and Sprains in the Cold Weather.  The survey was made possible by support from King Pharmaceuticals®, Inc.

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