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It is estimated that approximately 1/3 of those diagnosed and being treated for cancer experience some level of pain at some point. That pain will take in many different forms and may be short-lived pain or it may be a long-lasting pain. The pain may be mild and occasional or it may be severe and constant. It may be affecting one part of the body or it may be affecting the bones, organs and more. Every cancer patients pain is different and unique to them and as such, a pain doctor must provide pain management treatment that is tailored to each patient accordingly.
Cancer Pain Causes
The pain from cancer can be from different things, and again, it is different with each cancer patient.
Tumor Pain: There is the possibility that tumor will begin to press on the patients bones, nerves and/or organs causing pain. The severity of that pain will vary based on the size of the tumor and location of it as well. When a tumor is near a nerve or the patients spinal cord, no matter the size, it can be extremely painful and requires the immediate attention of a pain doctor.
Treatment Pain: When a cancer patient goes through any type of treatment, they can experience pain from that. Treatments may include one of or a combination of the following: chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and/or surgery. There may be certain conditions for a cancer patient that will cause them more pain than other cancer patients such as a suppressed immune system that can be the result of those various therapies.
Post-Operative Pain: After surgery, a cancer patient may experience an acute, short-term pain. It can help them to recuperate faster to see a pain doctor that specializes in cancer pain.
Cancer Pain Treatments
Cancer pain is treatable and approximately 9 out of ten cancer patients that have pain can find relief by way of a pain doctor who may prescribe a combination of medications and therapies. These medications will vary from general pain relievers that are available over-the-count, to pain medication that is available by prescription only.
These pain medications may be taken by injections, orally, transdermal patches or rectally. Again, this all depends on the type of cancer, the type of pain and where the pain is located as well as many other factors that vary from cancer patient to cancer patient.
A pain doctor may also prescribe non-drug treatment for a cancer patients pain management only or as a supplement to the above list types of pain management medications. These treatments are designed to make the cancer patients medicines work more effectively in relieving their pain as well as other symptoms they may be experiencing.
Other Non-Medicinal Treatments
In addition to or instead of using medication to manage a cancer patients pain, their doctor may prescribe other methods. Among those methods may be physical therapy, also called PT. The physical therapist will have a number of exercises and motions that will focus on and around the area of pain.
They may also prescribe a psychiatrist type therapy, which may be one-on-on or in a group setting. This type of treatment helps a cancer patient come to terms with their illness and how it may affect their lives as well as the lives of those around them. The one-on-one or the group therapy sessions may or may not include the cancer patients family members.
There are family members that find having a one-on-one alone is helpful as well. Cancer has an effect on the patient and everyone associated with the patient. It can be a frightful time with the unknown of cancer. These therapy sessions help to grasp what is happening and learn to handle what is to come.
