Blood & Cancer

When it comes to treating pain related to sickle cell disease, consider the underlying factors, from constipation to compression spine deformity. That’s just some of the advice from Ifeyinwa Osunkwo, MD, of Atrium Health and Levine Cancer Institute in Charlotte, N.C. She joins host David H. Henry, MD, of Pennsylvania Hospital, Philadelphia, to discuss her tips for treating pain and other complications of sickle cell disease. Dr. Osunkwo also provides an update on progress toward a cure in sickle cell disease that could be available to a large number of patients. Plus, in Clinical Correlation, Ilana Yurkiewicz, MD, of Stanford (Calif.) University, talks about why treating patients with cancer doesn’t make her sad. *  *  * Treating pain in sickle cell: In sickle cell disease, patients have acute episodes of vaso-occlusive crisis, as well as chronic pain. Consider whether the pain symptoms are an acute exacerbation of their chronic pain, an independent acute episode of pain, or chronic pain. In her practice, Dr