Cancer Pain

Receiving a cancer diagnosis can be painful enough. On top of that, the cancer itself and the cancer treatment can often lead to painful symptoms. Even with advancements in treatment options, It can be difficult to treat. However, the Nevada Advanced Pain Specialists in the Reno, Sparks and Carson City areas have successfully helped their patients who are battling cancer find relief from their cancer or cancer treatment pain. If you’re suffering from pain due to cancer or cancer treatment, there is the possibility for relief. 

What is Cancer Pain?

The pain of Cancer is any pain that is felt as a side effect of cancer. While the type of pain can vary, The pain is a very common symptom with most cancers, especially:

• Breast
• Pancreatic
• Head and neck
• Prostate
• Uterine
• Genitourinary (urinary and genital organs)

The symptoms and levels of pain vary, depending on the stage of cancer, the size of the tumor, and the progression of the disease. Recent studies have found that average rates of pain change depending on the stage of treatment. 

• During treatment: mid levels of pain
• After successful treatment: least levels of pain
• Advanced terminal cancer: most levels of pain

On average, more than one in three people reported feelings of moderate to severe pain, regardless of the type of cancer or the stage of treatment. This shows that the pain of cancer is a common problem associated with cancer and cancer treatment. 

the pain of cancer can be any pain that is mild, moderate or severe. It can feel like an intermittent sharp, stabbing pain, or a tingling or burning sensation, or a persistent ache. This pain can greatly affect a person’s quality of life and can even make certain cancer symptoms and treatment side effects feel worse. Suffering with this type of pain can also lead a person to experience depression and anxiety, which is why pain management is a crucial part of cancer treatment. 

What Causes Cancer Pain?

There are several reasons why a person might experience cancer pain, which include: 

• Pain related to cancer tumors
• Pain related to cancer treatment
• Pain unrelated to the cancer or treatment

Tumors can lead to painful symptoms if the tumor presses on nearby nerves, or as it grows within an organ. Pain is most often described as burning or radiating, sharp and shooting, or a dull ache, depending upon where the tumor is located in the body. This is known as neuropathic pain and can be felt long after the tumor is treated. Referred pain can also be felt as a result of a tumor, and could lead to pain experienced in a completely different part of the body. 

Cancer treatments

Cancer treatments including chemotherapy and radiation can also lead to pain. Chemotherapy drugs can lead to pain or numbness in the feet. Pain from radiation depends on the area of the body being treated, but could leave a person with feelings of fatigue, stiffness, swelling and skin changes. 

Pain that is not related to cancer tumors or cancer treatment can vary from person to person. Some people experience soft tissue pain that is a result of damage from cancer or the treatment. Phantom limb pain is also a very serious condition that can affect those who had an amputation or a mastectomy. This is when the brain continues to send post-surgical pain sensations as if the limb or breast were still part of the body and causing pain. 

What are the Treatments for Cancer Pain?

The best way to combat cancer pain is to partner with a pain management specialist who can recommend a comprehensive approach to help you comfortably and effectively treat and manage your particular type of cancer pain. The pain of cancer can include post-surgical pain, post-treatment pain, scar tissue pain, post-radiation pain, and terminal cancer pain. It can be difficult to treat, but there are treatments that have helped patients find much needed relief. 

The most common treatments include: 

• Biofeedback: learning how to gain control of some of the body’s involuntary responses, such a heart rate and blood pressure, gives a person greater control on their level of pain
• Meditation: studies show that mindfulness meditation helps a person to reduce pain, anxiety and depression. A great benefit of this method is that it’s free, can be done anywhere, and there are no side effects. Mindfulness meditation is a type of meditation where a person focuses on being aware of what they’re sensing and feeling, and using breathing methods and other practices to relax the body and mind and reduce stress. 
• Massage: rubbing tender spots on the body can both help to reduce muscle spasms and associated pain, as well as help the person to relax and become less tense
• Acupuncture: this treatment method where  practitioners insert fine needles into the skin to treat health problems has proven helpful for significantly reducing pain

More treatments include: 

• Medications: both over-the-counter and prescription medications can help to alleviate pain symptoms, and can include NSAIDs, muscle relaxants, and membrane-stabilizing medications. Opioid-based medications are generally only prescribed for a person who has late stages of cancer. 
• Nerve blocks: a nerve block works by blocking the pain sensations from being sent to and received by the brain, thus reducing a person’s level of pain. A celiac plexus block is especially effective for treating difficult pain of cancer. 
• Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS): this treatment uses a mild electrical current on the skin at or near the nerves thought to be causing pain. The electrical impulses interrupt the pain sensations from being sent to the brain, so instead of pain a person simply feels a tingling sensation.  
• Intrathecal pump: also known as a pain pump, an intrathecal pump is a surgically-implanted device that delivers medication directly to the fluid surrounding the spinal cord. This offers patients a more effective treatment option (versus oral medication), and allows for most long lasting and sustained pain relief. 

Cancer or Stage of Treatment

Regardless of your specific type of cancer or stage of treatment, there is help for managing your pain. The Nevada Advanced Pain Specialists in the Reno, Sparks and Carson City areas have been able to utilize a combination of treatments to help their patients reduce or even eliminate their feelings of pain. This not only helps to improve their quality of life, but can also help them focus on beating cancer and living their best cancer-free life. Please schedule an appointment today to learn about which pain treatments could work best for you.