Not everyone with cancer experiences pain, but some patients do. You are at a higher risk of having pain if your cancer spreads or recurs. Cancer pain can present in various forms; dull, achy, sharp, or burning. Austin cancer pain can result from cancer itself, cancer treatments, or cancer damage to nearby tissues. The severity of your pain depends on the cancer type, stage of cancer, pain tolerance, and location of your cancer. Controlling pain is a vital part of your cancer treatment. Your doctor can help you manage cancer pain through medications, therapies, or procedures that block pain signals. There are various causes of cancer pain, including:
Spinal cord compression
Tumors can spread to your spine and press on the spinal cord nerves, known as spinal cord compression. Back or neck pain is the first symptom of spinal compression. You can also experience pain, numbness, or weakness in your arm or leg. Coughing and sneezing can make your pain worse. If you experience such pain, seek immediate medical care to prevent paralysis or bladder or bowel control loss.
Bone pain
Bone pain can occur when cancer starts or spreads to your bones. It can also result from side effects of growth factor drugs or colony-stimulating factors. Your doctor can prescribe these drugs to prevent white blood cell counts from dropping after treatments. Bone pain treatment can control cancer or aim at protecting the affected bones.
Cancer surgical treatments
Surgical treatment can be used to remove solid tumors. After surgery, you will experience pain lasting for a few days to weeks. Your surgeon can recommend strong or mild painkillers depending on the severity of your pain.
Phantom pain
Phantom pain is the effect you get beyond normal surgical pain. If you had your arm, leg, or breast removed, you might still feel pain or discomfort due to the part’s absence. Doctors are not sure why phantom pain happens.
Chemotherapy and radiation treatment
Chemotherapy and radiation can cause side effects like pain. These treatments can cause various forms of pain, including:
Peripheral neuropathy
Peripheral neuropathy can result from nerve damage caused by particular types of chemotherapy. Pain, burning, tingling, numbness, weakness, trouble walking, or unusual sensations in hands, arms, or legs are some symptoms of peripheral neuropathy. Talk to your doctor if you experience any of these symptoms.
Mouth sores
Chemotherapy can cause sores and pain in your mouth and throat. You may have trouble talking, drinking, or eating.
Radiation injuries
Pain from external radiation depends on the body part being treated. Radiation can cause mouth sores, skin burns, and scarring, leading to pain. If radiation involves the throat, intestine, or bladder, you may experience pain in these parts.
Procedures and testing
Some tests used to diagnose cancer can be painful. Before any test or procedure, ask your doctor if you will experience any pain. If your process involves pain, discuss with your doctor the management treatments available.
Cancer pain can be mild, moderate, or severe. Cancer pain can be caused by cancer treatments, diagnostic tests for cancer, or cancer damaging neighboring tissues. Schedule an appointment at Republic Spine and Pain for cancer pain treatment to manage your discomfort.
