If you asked someone who has never fought cancer what the chief challenges of cancer treatment are, you’d probably hear things like “cancer patients often lose their hair,” and “chemo can make you really nauseous and you don’t want to eat anything.” And of course, in many cases, these observations are right on.
But if you asked a cancer survivor what else they had to deal with while undergoing their treatments, you might also hear “cancer hurts!”
I admit that I didn’t really realize how much pain is often part of a cancer diagnosis, but after speaking with my cancer survivor friends and family members and doing a lot of reading on the subject, it really makes a lot of sense. In some cases the tumor is pushing on nerves or organs or another body part and it can be really uncomfortable to live with. Or when cancer metastasizes and spreads to other areas of the body, it can lead to a lot of pain. And then in other cases people have surgery to remove the cancerous growth, which of course can cause pain during recovery.
And pain from cancer can also have psychological factors too. Having cancer is extremely stressful and can lead to incredible amounts of tension in the body, insomnia, and anxiety. All of these things can influence how we feel pain. To use an example which I realize is not even in the same ballpark as battling cancer, I know from my own experience that when I’m under a great deal of stress, my headaches will just hurt more. So I really feel for cancer patients who are dealing with very real pain from either the tumor itself or the accompanying psychological issues.
So what can be done about this pain? From what I’ve been reading and from talking with people who have lived through it, the most popular and effective way of combating cancer-related pain is to try to be as proactive as possible. Ideally, your oncologist should help you anticipate painful situations and give you medications and/or other techniques to ward off the discomfort before it sets in. Once pain starts, it can be hard to get rid of, so nipping it in the bud is really important. Cancer patients have enough on their plates as it is; they don’t need pain on top of their other treatment symptoms that will cause them even more difficulties with eating, sleeping, and everything else.
In other words, even though pain is a common part of cancer, it does not have to be accepted as “just something you have to live with.”
I’ve found several facilities through my research that take a very active approach to pain management and cancer care. For example, at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, the Pain Management Center works with cancer patients to help manage their pain by helping to find the best options that will help them feel better. And on a case-by-case basis, they will also work with you if you have non-cancer pain, like a migraine headache or sprain or something. Here is the link that describes their program:
www.mdanderson.org/patient-and-cancer-information/care-centers-and-clinics/specialty-and-treatment-centers/pain-management/index.html
The Cancer Treatment Centers of America also take pain management very seriously. Their Pain Management Program strives to empower people to help make decisions about your care while free from pain. After arriving at a CTCA for treatment, every cancer patient is evaluated by a pain management practitioner as well as come up with a plan to treat it. If you’d like to read more, please click below:
www.cancercenter.com/complementary-alternative-medicine/pain-management.cfm
And at the Siteman Cancer Center in St. Louis, Missouri, anesthesiologists who specialize in pain management are on staff to help patients feel better. Like at the CTCA, each patient is evaluated and treated for their pain. Treatments may include medication, nerve blocks, physical therapy, and other things:
www.siteman.wustl.edu/internal.aspx?id=140
People who are battling cancer should be able to spend every ounce of energy focusing on winning their fight. Pain should not be part of the equation for them. I’m glad to see that cancer treatment facilities across the country are taking this issue seriously and are helping patients.
If you are a cancer survivor, did you experience any pain? What types of treatments worked for you? Did you get help for your pain at your cancer treatment center or were you on your own? I look forward to hearing from you!