What is cancer pain?
The majority of people with cancer will experience pain at some time or another. The pain can result from the cancer itself, or from the cancer treatment. In addition, some patients who have been cured of their cancer can continue to suffer from pain.
Cancer pain, or the discomfort that stems from cancer and its treatment, can be controlled in the great majority of cases. There are many different medicines and methods available to control cancer pain. Patients who have cancer and are feeling pain need to inform a health care professional immediately. If the patient gets help for pain early, the treatment of the pain is more effective.
What causes cancer pain?
There are many causes of cancer pain, but most cancer pain occurs when a tumor presses on nerves or body organs or when cancer cells invade bones or body organs. Cancer treatments—such as chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery—also might result in pain. A health care professional can recommend the appropriate treatment for each condition after a thorough evaluation.
What are the symptoms of cancer pain?
The symptoms of cancer pain vary from person to person. The amount of pain present might depend on the type of cancer, the stage or extent of the disease, and the patient’s pain threshold (tolerance for pain). Pain can range from mild and occasional to severe and constant.
How is cancer pain treated?
Pain specialists who help treat cancer patients might be oncologists, anesthesiologists, neurologists, neurosurgeons, or other doctors, nurses, or pharmacists. A pain control team might also include psychologists and social workers.
Although cancer pain is usually treated with medicine, surgery to remove a tumor or radiation therapy to shrink a tumor can be used along with medicine to provide additional pain relief. In most cases, doctors treat cancer pain with pain-relief medicines called analgesics or with non-drug treatments such as physical therapy and rehabilitation, imagery, biofeedback, and relaxation techniques. Other treatment options for cancer patients include nerve blocks— which involve the injection of pain medicine into or around a nerve or the spine, and neurosurgery, a procedure in which pain nerves are cut to alleviate pain.
What medicines are used to treat cancer pain?
For mild to moderate pain:
Pain relievers—Tylenol and a group of pain relievers called non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as aspirin and ibuprofen (Motrin and Aleve) can treat mild to moderate pain. Many of these are over-the-counter drugs that do not require a prescription, but some do require a prescription. Patients should check with a doctor before using these medicines, especially if chemotherapy is being administered. NSAIDs can slow blood clotting.
For moderate to severe pain:
Narcotic pain relievers—These drugs include morphine, Actiq, Duragesic, Dilaudid, oxycodone (sold under the brand names OxyContin, Precocity, and Telex), and codeine. Narcotic pain relievers require a prescription and might be used along with mild pain relievers for moderate to severe pain.
For breakthrough pain:
Onset narcotic pain relievers—Immediate-release oral morphine is among these drugs. Onset narcotic pain relievers, which require a prescription, are used to treat breakthrough pain (a flare-up of pain characterized by rapid onset, severe intensity, and short duration).
For tingling and burning pain:
Antidepressants—The antidepressant medicines amitriptyline, nortriptyline, and desipramine require prescriptions. Patients might take antidepressants to relieve pain even if those patients are not depressed.
Anticonvulsants (anti-seizure medicines), Tegretol and Neurontin, require prescriptions. Despite the name, anticonvulsants are used not only for seizures, but also to control burning and tingling pain, painful symptoms of nerve damage.
Other drugs—Corticosteroids such as prednisone are used to lessen swelling, which often causes pain.
© Copyright 1995-2008 The Cleveland Clinic Foundation. All rights reserved
Can't find the health information you’re looking for?
Ask a Health Educator, Live!
Click here to go to the Pain Management Department Web site.
Know someone who could use this information?....send them this link.
This information is provided by the Cleveland Clinic and is not intended to replace the medical advice of your doctor or health care provider. Please consult your health care provider for advice about a specific medical condition. This document was last reviewed on: 12/7/2004
