Pain Management

Cancer-related pain can result from both the disease process and treatment. For some cancer patients, the source of the pain can be easily identified and treated. For others, the pain may last longer and may develop into chronic pain. Because chronic pain cannot be stopped easily at the source, the nerves adapt, and patients may experience depression, anxiety and insomnia.

Pain affects each person differently, depending upon age, personality, perception, pain threshold and past experiences with pain. Psychological factors such as fear, worries or knowledge of impending death can also influence the effect of pain. Insomnia, fatigue and anxiety can lower the pain threshold, while rest, sleep and diversion can raise it.

All methods of pain management attempt to either control the cause of the pain or alter the patient's perception of it. Oncologists will evaluate all aspects of the patient's pain to develop appropriate management techniques. These fall into two categories that are often used together.

Using Medication to Control Pain

This involves the use of analgesics, as well as other medications to modify the patient's mood or pain perception.

Approaching Pain Control without Medication

These include behavioral techniques, radiation, surgery, neurological and neurosurgical interventions. Traditional nursing and psychosocial interventions may also be used in an attempt to promote comfort and evaluate the effectiveness of the therapy.