World Anaesthesia Day 2023: Anaesthesia and cancer care
Join us in celebration of World Anaesthesia Day 2023.
World Anaesthesia Day, celebrated on 16 October every year, commemorates a revolutionary breakthrough in medicine. On this day in 1846, Dr William T.G Morton performed the first successful demonstration of ether anaesthesia. Before this, surgery was an agonising and often life-threatening experience which relied on a patient’s physical and mental strength to endure the process. The discovery of anaesthesia has since played a vital role in pain relief, surgery, and patient care.
However, despite over 170 years since this turning point in medical history, nearly five billion people lack access to safe anaesthetic practices. World Anaesthesia Day advocates for the global adoption of safe anaesthesia. It also recognises the tireless efforts of anaesthetists who ensure patient comfort and safety.
This year, the theme for World Anaesthesia Day is ‘anaesthesia and cancer care’. Anaesthetists are integral for cancer care, facilitating pain-free procedures. Tumour removal, organ transplants and reconstructive work are typical cancer treatments that require anaesthesia. As well as aiding surgery, anaesthesia minimises patient suffering and anxiety - contributing to overall patient wellbeing. This may continue post-surgery, with a prescription of an anaesthetic for recovery, or may not accompany surgery but instead be needed in palliative care. Palliative care for advanced cancer patients focuses on improving quality of life. Anaesthesia helps to alleviate severe pain and discomfort, providing relief in a dignified manner.
As cancer is becoming more prolific, with cancer cases expected to grow from 19.3 to 28.4 million by 2040, anaesthesia is increasingly important. To ensure patients receive the best possible care when fighting cancer, let’s raise awareness for safer anaesthesia.