When we think of patients battling cancer, we often think of the common treatments: radiation, chemotherapy, surgery. But there’s another aspect to this battle that sometimes gets overlooked, and that’s the patient’s pain levels and the resulting quality of life. We all know that it can be a huge challenge to fight cancer, and patients often need pain relief so that their body can properly rest and heal.
There are many different types of cancer, and as such, many different types of pain. Treatment is always personalized to the individual, based a variety of factors, including the severity of pain, where they are in their stage of treatment, what type of treatment they’re receiving, other health issues they may be facing, and others. Thus, while we wouldn’t want to make general recommendations, it’s a good idea to be familiar with the different types of pain typically experienced by patients with different types of cancer.
Breast Cancer
Depending on the type of breast cancer, a patient may or may not experience pain. Most commonly, pain in breast cancer patients is often caused when the patient develops a tumor or has inflammatory cancer. Some rarer forms also cause irritation around the nipple, or more severe pain.
Lung Cancer
According to the American Cancer Society, most lung cancers do not cause pain directly unless they spread to other parts of the body. That said, patients may experience chest pain, particularly when breathing deeply, coughing (another common symptom of lung cancer), or laughing.
Bone Cancer
Unlike breast or lung cancer, bone cancer can be extremely painful. Depending on where the cancer is located, patients often feel dull aches in the affected region. If the patient suffers from other bone diseases like osteoporosis, the pain may be greatly amplified greatly. Additionally, bone cancer often weakens the bones, resulting in fractures or even breakages, which are obviously very painful to experience.
Colorectal Cancer
Another cancer that often is painless until it has spread to other body parts is colorectal cancer. Sometimes patients with this form experience stomach or abdominal pain, however, this occurs mainly when the cancer is advanced. For this reason, the American Cancer Society recommends getting checked regularly after age 50.
If you or a loved one is experiencing pain due to cancer, know that Pain and Spine Specialists is here for you. We frequently receive referrals from oncologists, and we work with patients to ensure they manage their disease with as much comfort and as little pain as possible. We offer a wide variety of treatments that we personalize to each patient with the goal of giving them all the relief they need.
Are you or a loved one are suffering from chronic pain? Call Pain and Spine Specialists Today! Be sure to schedule an appointment with one of our pain specialists. We treat many conditions and injuries of the middle back, neck, and spine by taking a whole-person approach to care. Our focus is getting you back on your feet in good health. Call us in Maryland at 301-703-8767, in Pennsylvania at 724-603-3560, or in Virginia 540-433-1905 to make an appointment or use the form on our site to send us a message.