Overview Of Cancer Pain
Cancer can sometimes cause pain. This pain can come from cancer itself, or from the treatments for cancer.
Treating your pain should be part of your overall treatment for cancer. You have a right to receive treatment for cancer pain. There are many medicines and other treatments that can help. If you have any pain, be sure to talk with your health care provider about your options.
Causes Of Cancer Pain
The pain from cancer can have a few different causes:
Cancer. When a tumor grows, it can press on nerves, bones, organs, or the spinal cord, causing pain.
Medical tests. Some medical tests, such as a biopsy or bone marrow test, can cause pain.
Treatment. Many types of cancer treatments can cause pain, including chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery.
Everyone’s pain is different. Your pain can range from mild to severe and may last for only a short time or continue for a long time.
Treatment
Many people with cancer do not get enough treatment for their pain. This may be because they do not want to take pain medicine, or they do not think it will help. But treating your pain is part of treating your cancer. You should get treatment for pain just as you would for any other side effect.
Managing pain can also help you feel better overall. Treatment can help you:
- Sleep better
- Be more active
- Want to eat
- Feel less stress and depression
- Improve your sex life
Source
Courtesy of MedlinePlus from the National Library of Medicine
