Cancer Pain Syndromes

by Krisha McCoy, MS

• Definition • Causes • Risk Factors • Symptoms • Diagnosis • Treatment • Prevention

En Español (Spanish Version)

Definition

About one-third of people with cancer have pain. Cancer pain can be affected by:

Progression of the cancer
Location in the body
Overall physical condition

Causes TOP

Cancer pain is often grouped by what is causing the pain such as:

Pain from the tumor—Tumors can press on bone, nerves, or an organ.
Pain related to cancer therapy including:
- Chemotherapy
- Radiation therapy
- Surgery
Pain unrelated to the cancer or treatment such as:
- Headaches
- Arthritis
- Muscle strains

Chemotherapy Affects the Whole Body

Risk Factors TOP

Having cancer is the main risk factor for cancer pain.

Symptoms TOP

Cancer pain will vary from person to person. In general, any type of pain felt by someone with cancer is cancer pain. The pain may:

Be near or far from the tumor
Vary in intensity
Be regular and long lasting or come and go
Be described as pressure, sharp, dull, throbbing, burning, stabbing, or achy

Diagnosis TOP

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

Imaging tests may be needed to look for sources of pain. Bone fractures and lesions can be found this way. Imaging tests may include:

Your doctor may need to test your nerves. This can be done with:

Electromyography (EMG)
Nerve conduction velocity (NCV)

Treatment TOP

Your plan will depend on the type of pain you are having. It will also depend on how your cancer has been treated. The overall goal is to manage pain. Options include:

Medicine

Non-opioids—to treat mild-to-moderate cancer pain:
- Acetaminophen
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
Opioids—often used to treat moderate-to-severe cancer pain
Other medications that may help with pain related to the central nervous system (neuropathic or central pain) include:
- Antidepressants
- Anticonvulsants
- Steroids

Radiation Therapy

Radiation therapy can help to shrink tumors. It may be used to relieve:

Bone pain
Pain caused by tumors pressing on other structures

Alternative Treatments TOP

Acupuncture may be helpful in reducing cancer pain. Talk to your doctor to see if this is a good option for you.

Prevention TOP

Cancer pain usually cannot be prevented.

RESOURCES:

American Cancer Society
https://www.cancer.org

National Cancer Institute
https://www.cancer.gov

CANADIAN RESOURCES:

Canadian Cancer Society
https://www.cancer.ca

Provincial Health Services Authority
http://www.bccancer.bc.ca

REFERENCES:

Cancer pain. American Cancer Society website. Available at: https://www.cancer.org/treatment/treatments-and-side-effects/physical-side-effects/pain.html. Accessed January 8, 2018.

Cancer pain. EBSCO DynaMed Plus website. Available at: http://www.dynamed.com/topics/dmp~AN~T113832/Cancer-pain . Updated September 7, 2017. Accessed January 8, 2018.

General information about cancer pain. National Cancer Institute website. Available at: https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/treatment/side-effects/pain/pain-pdq. Updated August 31, 2017. Accessed January 8, 2018.

2/11/2011 DynaMed Plus Systematic Literature Surveillance http://www.dynamed.com/topics/dmp~AN~T113832/Cancer-pain : Paley C, Johnson M, Tashani OA, Bagnall AM. Acupuncture for cancer pain in adults. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2011;(1):CD007753.

Last reviewed November 2018 by EBSCO Medical Review Board Mohei Abouzied, MD, FACP
Last Updated: 12/20/2014