It is not always necessary for cancer to be accompanied by pain, but in most cases, it does especially if the tumor has invaded surrounding tissues or metastasized. This pain can be due to the tumor pressing on surrounding bones, blood vessels, nerves, or other tissues. Sometimes, the pain is caused by cancer treatment itself.
Cancer pain varies greatly in form, severity, and incidence. It can be dull, sharp, tingling, burning, stabbing, or pricking; it can be mild, moderate, or severe; or it can be constant or intermittent. If someone with cancer starts feeling pain and it is bad enough to interfere with their daily life, they should report it to their doctor so the treatment can be started as early as possible.
In cases where the pain is severe and needs to be managed, several medical, surgical, and other interventions are used.
Surgical Interventions:
One of the many ways to treat cancer pain is to remove the source of pain altogether. If that cannot be done, medical interventions such as the use of analgesics are employed.
Medical Interventions:
Medications that are used for the management of cancer pain include:
- Over-the-counter Pain Relievers: Over-the-counter pain killers such as Acetaminophen and another group of pain relievers called non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen, aspirin, diclofenac, etc. can be used to treat mild to moderate pain associated with cancer. However, patients should consult their doctor before using these medicines, especially if they are going through chemotherapy.
- Narcotic Analgesics: Narcotic pain killers require a prescription and are used to treat moderate to severe pain. They can either be used alone or in combination with OTC pain killers. Some commonly used narcotic analgesics include codeine, morphine, oxycodone, fentanyl, hydromorphone, etc.
- Antidepressants: To treat tingling and burning pain, unusual pain killers can be used. Antidepressants such as amitriptyline and nortriptyline are among the ones used for this purpose.
- Anticonvulsant/Anti-seizure drugs: Anticonvulsants like gabapentin, carbamazepine, etc. are not only useful for seizures but also for treating burning pain associated with cancer.
- Steroids: Corticosteroids can control the symptoms of inflammation, including pain. The most commonly prescribed corticosteroid for this purpose is dexamethasone. It can be combined with other drugs to increase its efficiency in the treatment of pain.
Radiation Therapy:
Radiation therapy is used to kill cancerous cells, shrink the tumor, and eventually remove it altogether. Radiation therapy, when combined with medical interventions, can help provide additional pain relief.
Other Methods:
Non-drug and non-surgical treatments such as physical therapy, rehabilitation, relaxation, biofeedback can be employed to provide relief from cancer pain. Other than these, options like nerve blockage by using an injection of pain-relieving medicine into or around a nerve or spine can be used.
In some cases, a combination of a few or more above mentioned interventions can be used. Extreme pain associated with cancer usually requires systemic management with proper medical intervention and other techniques. It is essential to consult your doctor before opting for any medications to treat your pain.