Cancer and its treatment may bring pain. Can pain be managed? What can be done to relieve the pain? This is a question that many patients ask. Here are a few ways to manage cancer pain.
Medication
Many medications can be used to control cancer pain. If you are taking pain medication for other conditions, you should inform your doctor. The key to controlling cancer pain is to use the medication regularly and according to a plan, not to wait until the pain gets worse. The following medications can be chosen under the guidance of your doctor.
- Over-the-counter medications. That is, medications that can be purchased without a doctor’s prescription, including acetaminophen, ibuprofen, aspirin, and others. Be cautious when taking over-the-counter medications. Although you do not need a doctor’s prescription, you should talk to your doctor before taking the medication, especially if you have fever, liver or kidney disease, gastrointestinal bleeding, or stomach ulcers. Be careful about the safety of your medication and follow the directions on the drug label unless directed by your doctor.
- Prescription drugs. Patients with cancer often need stronger pain medicines prescribed by their doctor. Prescription drugs can be used alone or in combination with other medicines, and you should make sure you follow your doctor’s instructions, including the following.
- Opioid analgesics, such as fentanyl, hydromorphone, methadone, morphine, oxycodone, and tramadol.
- Anti-inflammatory drugs and glucocorticoids, commonly known as “hormones,” such as prednisone and dexamethasone.
- Biphosphonates are used to treat bone pain, such as pamidronate disodium and zoledronic acid.
- Anticonvulsants, certain drugs used to treat seizures, help control nerve pain, such as localized burning and tingling pain.
- Antidepressants, which are also used to relieve pain and help fall asleep.
- Local anesthetics, which can be used to relieve pain in areas such as the skin, such as skin creams containing capsaicin or lidocaine.
Medications for cancer pain are usually applied orally, including tablets, capsules, liquids, and some medications that need to be taken by mouth. But when there is difficulty swallowing or when more rapid pain relief is needed, medications can also be administered in other ways, including subcutaneous or intramuscular injections, intravenous injections, analgesic pumps placed under the skin, skin patches, suppositories inserted through the anus, nasal sprays, and through spinal anesthesia.
Many patients are concerned about addiction to pain medications. Addiction to pain medications is rare if there has not been an addiction problem and the medication is administered under medical supervision. When pain medication is no longer needed, your doctor will instruct you to slowly lower the dose until you stop taking it. Don’t let fear of drug addiction get in the way of pain relief.
Surgical treatment
Surgery can sometimes be used to reduce cancer pain. Surgery can help relieve pain when a tumor is pressing on a nerve, bone, or spinal cord, and surgery can also remove a tumor that is blocking the bowel and causing pain. The need for surgery and the type of surgery depends on the type of cancer, the area of the body involved, and what treatment has been given.
Other treatments
There are other methods that can be used to reduce cancer pain.
- Radiotherapy to tumors that press on nerves, bones, or the spinal cord can reduce pressure on organs and nerves and relieve pain.
- Injections of nerve blockers around nerves can temporarily stop the nerves from sending pain signals to the brain and relieve pain, usually after other treatments have failed.
- Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS), which uses mild electrical currents to reduce pain.
In addition, there are complementary therapies that may work, such as acupuncture for pain relief, meditation or yoga for stress relief, methods such as massage for pain relief and tension relief, and breathing exercises for relaxation. But these methods are not a substitute for standard medical treatment.
Battling cancer pain is sometimes a “hard battle,” and emotional support is important, as is talking to your doctor and discussing a pain management plan.