Receiving a cancer diagnosis can be devastating for you and your loved ones. Living with that diagnosis is undeniably challenging, especially during treatment. Not all cancer causes pain, but in some cases, the location, the treatment or advanced stages may cause anything from mild discomfort to unrelenting, severe pain.
Keeping your pain controlled is an essential component of your treatment plan. Most cancer pain is manageable through a combination of approaches tailored to your needs.
Assessing Your Cancer Pain
Pain is personal, as everyone has a different tolerance level. Your pain intensity will be evaluated to ensure the best treatment. Cancer pain usually falls under the following types:
- Acute – Short-term (days to weeks) pain that starts suddenly, feels “sharp,” and is related to injury, diagnostics, infection or surgery. [5]
- Chronic – Long-term or persistent pain (over 3 months) may be due to the cancer itself or the treatment.[5]
- Breakthrough – Sudden and short-term pain patients may feel despite pain control efforts.[6]
- Referred – Cancer in one part of the body causing pain in another area, such as liver cancer with pain felt in the right shoulder.[6]
No matter what type of pain you experience while dealing with cancer, it can affect the quality of your life. Uncontrolled pain may make daily life challenging. Report all pain, no matter how mild, to your doctor.
What Causes Cancer Pain?
Cancer pain can arise from factors associated with the disease itself or its treatments. Here are some causes, treatments and potential complications associated with cancer pain:
Tumor Growth
Their size, location, and if they are pressing on nerves, organs or bones can lead to pain.[1]
Aromatase Inhibitor Therapy
Hormone therapy lowers the body’s ability to make estrogen and may cause joint and muscle pain. [2]
Nerve Damage
Cancer and chemotherapy can damage nerves, causing neuropathic pain described as shooting, burning or tingling.[2]
Post-Operative Pain
Surgical removal of tumors or lymph nodes or other cancer-related surgical procedures, such as colectomy or lumpectomy, are often associated with some level of pain and discomfort. [2]
Inflammation
Cancer often triggers chronic inflammation, which can lead to discomfort and pain.[3]
Diagnostics
Tissue or bone marrow biopsies, endoscopies and lumbar punctures may cause pain during and after the procedure. [4]
Bone Pain
Cancer that is damaging bone tissue can cause an aching, dull pain. Also known as somatic pain.[5]
Phantom Pain
Pain in a body part or area that has been removed, such as a mastectomy. [5]
Immunotherapy
Treatment to stimulate the body’s immune system can cause painful swelling (inflammatory arthritis)t.[5]
Non-Drug Cancer Treatment Options
Complementary therapies may help manage cancer pain along with conventional pain management strategies. These options may empower cancer patients to be proactive in the pain relief journey. Here are some drug-free therapies to explore:
- Physical therapy
- Acupuncture
- Massage therapy
- Mindfulness and meditation
- Heat and cold therapy
- Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS)
- Yoga and Tai Chi
- Nutritional therapy
- Support groups and counseling
What if Conventional Treatment Isn’t Enough to Control My Cancer Pain?
If medication and complementary therapies aren’t sufficiently controlling your cancer pain, there are specialized pain management interventions available. These targeted services provide comprehensive pain care and can improve the quality of life for cancer patients. Pain management doctors collaborate with your healthcare team to provide pain relief throughout your cancer-fighting journey.
Pain Management for Cancer Patients
Pain management clinics offer a range of advanced treatments and supportive services tailored to the type of pain cancer patients experience. Interventional pain procedures such as nerve blocks, epidural injections, kyphoplasty and spinal cord stimulation interrupt pain signals and provide lasting relief.
In addition to other interventions, patients experiencing moderate to severe cancer-related pain may benefit from prescription opioids. [7] In persistent or palliative cases, targeted and consistent drug delivery for opioid medications may be recommended through the use of intrathecal or epidural pumps.
Don’t suffer from uncontrolled cancer pain. A personalized treatment plan can help restore your functionality and improve your overall well-being by relieving cancer-related pain and discomfort. Contact a reputable pain management doctor and find effective pain relief options.
Resources:
- Facts About Cancer Pain | Pain from Cancer & Cancer Treatment. American Cancer Society [Internet]. Revised March 29, 2024. Accessed April 15, 2024. Available from: https://www.cancer.org/cancer/managing-cancer/side-effects/pain/cancer-pain/pain-in-people-with-cancer.html
- National Cancer Institute. Cancer Pain (PDQ®)–Patient Version. National Cancer Institute [Internet]. March 6, 2019. Accessed April 15, 2024. Available from: https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/treatment/side-effects/pain/pain-pdq
- Singh N, Baby D, Rajguru JP, Patil PB, Thakkannavar SS, Pujari VB. Inflammation and Cancer. Annals of African Medicine [Internet]. 2019;18(3):121-126. doi:https://doi.org/10.4103/aam.aam_56_18 Accessed on April 15, 2024. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6704802/
- Ripamonti CI, Bossi P, Santini D, Fallon M. Pain related to cancer treatments and diagnostic procedures: a no man’s land?. Ann Oncol [Internet]. 2014;25(6):1097-1106. doi:10.1093/annonc/mdu011. Accessed April 15, 2024. Available from: https://www.annalsofoncology.org/article/S0923-7534(19)36565-2/fulltext
- Cancer Research UK. Causes and types of cancer pain | Coping with cancer. Cancer Research UK [Internet]. 2018. Reviewed January 12, 2024. Accessed April 15, 2024. Available from: https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/coping/physically/cancer-and-pain-control/causes-and-types
- Cancer Information and Support | Impacts of Cancer | Pain. Macmillan Cancer Support [Internet]. Reviewed August 1, 2022. Accessed April 15, 2024. Available from: https://www.macmillan.org.uk/cancer-information-and-support/impacts-of-cancer/pain
- Side Effects: Cancer Pain Management. The University of Texas – MD Anderson Cancer Center [Internet]. 2019. Accessed April 15, 2024. Available from: https://www.mdanderson.org/patients-family/diagnosis-treatment/emotional-physical-effects/cancer-pain-management.html
