Types and Causes of Cancer Pain
Cancer pain can range from mild to very severe. Some days it can be worse than
others. It can be caused by the cancer itself, the treatment, or both.
You may also have pain that has nothing to do with your cancer. Some people
have other health issues or headaches and muscle strains. But always check with
your doctor before taking any over-the-counter medicine to relieve everyday aches
and pains.
Different types of pain
Here are the common terms used to describe different types of pain:
- Acute pain ranges from mild to severe. It comes on quickly and lasts a short time.
- Chronic pain ranges from mild to severe. It either won't go away or comes back often.
- Breakthrough pain is an intense rise in pain that occurs suddenly or is felt
for a short time. It can occur by itself or in relation to a certain activity. It
may happen several times a day, even when you're taking the right dose of
medicine. For example, it may happen as the current dose of your medicine is
wearing off.
What causes cancer pain?
Cancer and its treatment cause most cancer pain. Major causes of pain include:
- Pain from medical tests. Some methods used to diagnose cancer or see
how well treatment is working are painful. Examples may be a biopsy, spinal
tap, or bone marrow test. If you are told you need the procedure, don't let
concerns about pain stop you from having it done. Talk with your doctor
ahead of time about what will be done to lessen any pain you may have.
- Pain from a tumor. If the cancer grows bigger or spreads, it can cause pain
by pressing on the tissues around it. For example, a tumor can cause pain if it
presses on bones, nerves, the spinal cord, or body organs.
- Spinal cord compression. When a tumor spreads to the spine, it can press
on the spinal cord and cause spinal cord compression. The first sign of this is
often back or neck pain, or both. Coughing, sneezing, or other motions may
make it worse.
- Pain from treatment. Chemotherapy, radiation therapy, surgery, and
other treatments may cause pain for some people. Some examples of pain
from treatment are:
- Neuropathic pain. This is pain that may occur if treatment damages the
nerves. The pain is often burning, sharp, or shooting. The cancer itself can
also cause this kind of pain.
-
Phantom pain. You may still feel pain or other discomfort coming from
a body part that has been removed by surgery. Doctors aren't sure why
this happens, but it's real.
How much pain you feel depends on different things. These include where the
cancer is in your body, what kind of damage it is causing, and how you experience
the pain in your body. Everyone is different.
Listen to your body |
If you notice that everyday actions, such as coughing, sneezing, or moving, cause
new pain or your pain to get worse, tell your doctors right away. Also let them know
if you have unusual rashes or bowel or bladder changes. |
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