Cancer Pain Syndromes

Definition

About one-third of people with cancer have pain. There are different types of cancer pain affected by:

• The progression of the disease
• The location in the body
• The overall physical condition

Causes

Based on the cause of pain, researchers have defined different cancer pain syndromes, including:

• Pain from the tumor—Tumors can press on bone, nerves, or an organ, resulting in pain.
• Pain related to cancer therapy—This may include pain from:
  • Chemotherapy
  • Radiation therapy
  • Surgery
• Pain unrelated to the cancer or treatment—This refers to pain in people with cancer that has nothing to do with the illness or its treatment. It may include:
  • Headache
  • Arthritis
  • Muscle strains

Chemotherapy

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Risk Factors

Having cancer is the main risk factor for cancer pain.

Symptoms

Any type of pain experienced by a cancer patient can be considered cancer pain. The pain may be near or far from the location of the tumor. The intensity can vary. It may be chronic or off and on. The pain can be described as pressure, sharp, dull, throbbing, burning, stabbing, and achy.

Diagnosis

Your doctor will ask about your symptoms and medical history. A physical exam will be done. Special tests may also be done to determine possible causes of the pain.

Your doctor may need pictures of your bodily structures to look for structural problems such as bone fractures and lesions. This can be done with:

• CT scan
• MRI scan

Your doctor may need to evaluate you for nerve disorders. This can be done with:

• Electromyography (EMG)
• Nerve conduction velocity (NCV)

Treatment

Talk with your doctor about the best plan for you. Your plan will depend on the type of pain you are having. It will also depend on how your cancer has been treated. Medications to treat cancer pain include:

Antidepressants, anti-epileptics, and steroids may be effective in relieving certain types of cancer pain. These types of medication may be of benefit if the pain is thought to be related to the central nervous system. This type of pain may be called either neuopathic or central.

Prevention

Usually, cancer pain is difficult to avoid. To manage your pain, the best thing you can do is talk with your doctor about any pain you have. Your doctor can help you make a plan to manage your pain.