Cancer Pain

What Is Cancer Pain?

Nearly half of people with cancer experience significant pain related to their disease. CHOICE Pain & Rehabilitation Center is the first choice in cancer pain management because the team of empathetic specialists wants to bring that number down to zero. They offer multidisciplinary solutions to tackle the complex challenge of cancer and make every part of your life better. With offices in Olney, Rosedale, Hyattsville, Lanham, Gaithersburg, Dundalk, and Baltimore, Maryland, getting the care you need in a comfortable environment is convenient.

Get Relief from All Types of Pain

Discover our full spectrum of treatments from joint and back pain to neuropathy and fibromyalgia designed to restore your comfort and mobility.

Frequently Asked Questions

What causes cancer pain?

Cancer pain can stem from several different sources, including:

Tumor growth

The cancerous tumor is the primary source of pain for nearly 70% of cancer patients. As the tumor grows, it places direct pressure on nearby tissues, triggering severe pain. Depending on the tumor’s size, location, and other factors, the pain can be dull, burning, gnawing, sharp, or stabbing.

Treatment side effects

Although intended to cure or prevent the cancer’s progression, treatments like chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery can cause severe side effects, including pain.

Nerve compression

Cancerous tumors can pressure nerves, causing radiating pain that shoots down your leg, arm, or another part of your body.

How do doctors diagnose and monitor cancer?

Cancer diagnosis methods vary with the type of cancer. Symptom evaluation is often part of diagnosis, but not all cancers cause pain in their early stages. Other diagnostic procedures include physical exams, lab tests, imaging exams, and tissue testing (biopsies).

If you receive a cancer diagnosis, close monitoring is crucial to designing the ideal treatment plan. Monitoring methods include symptom tracking, additional testing, and frequent assessment of the effectiveness of your treatment plan.

What are the treatment options for managing cancer pain?

Depending on the specific type and severity of your cancer pain, the CHOICE Pain & Rehabilitation team will prescribe oral, injected, or patch delivery of medications. Some of the different drugs that can help manage pain include:

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) for mild-to-moderate pain
Opioids for moderate-to-severe pain
Steroids to reduce inflammation and pain
Antidepressants to modulate pain pathways and improve mood
Antiepileptics to ease nerve-related pain

The team takes a multidisciplinary approach, tackling your cancer from every angle to provide the most complete pain relief possible. Complementary therapies like biofeedback, mindfulness meditation, and relaxation techniques can help control your pain better, improving your quality of life and providing a more hopeful outlook.