Be Informed About Pain

Pain is not an inevitable side effect of cancer. But when it does occur, it can often be treated successfully.

Sometimes pain is a direct result of the cancer itself. For example, pain can arise when a tumor causes pressure on organs, nerves or bone, or causes a cancer-related blockage of an organ or vessel. In such cases, surgery, radiation or chemotherapy can be used to eliminate or at least shrink the tumor and thus relieve the pain.

At other times, pain can be associated with the cancer treatment itself. For example, there can be pain or discomfort after surgery or a skin rash from radiation. This type of pain usually disappears after the treatment ends. In the interim, there are medicines that can be taken to minimize or alleviate the pain.

FOCUSING ON PAIN This month, cancerpage.com will be taking a look at all aspects of cancer pain, its causes and its management. Some of the issues to be addressed will include: The actual mechanism of pain - how it occurs, how we feel it, whether it comes from the cancer itself or the actual treatments for the disease; Pain and overall well-being – how pain can affect emotional health, nutrition, energy levels and other aspects of recovery; Communicating cancer pain – the importance of discussing cancer pain with your physician, and of your physician discussing cancer pain with you; Non-prescription medicines to alleviate cancer pain – including aspirin, acetominophen and other over-the-counter drugs; Prescription medicines to alleviate cancer pain – such as narcotics and other prescription drugs; Surgical and other pain-relieving interventions – surgery and radiation to relieve blockages and tumors affecting adjacent nerves, or surgery directed at the nerves themselves; Novel approaches to treating cancer pain – electronic inhalers, dry powder injections and other cutting-edge technologies; Complementary and alternative therapies – acupuncture, aromatherapy, massage therapy and other non-traditional methods to alleviate pain; Pain at the end of life – palliative measures to ease the process of dying. Pain is one of the most treatable side effects of cancer – but unfortunately one that is all-too-often under- treated. For a variety of reasons, patients are sometimes reluctant to communicate the pain they are experiencing to their physician. Doctors themselves often do not take the time to discuss pain-related issues with their patients. With medicines, treatments and technologies that are currently available, pain does not usually have to be endured, and it certainly does not have to be debilitating. This series will help you to better understand every aspect of cancer pain, and to provide you with the information you need to begin the process of alleviating it.

Special Series Sleep Problems in Cancer Patients Linked with Pain, Fatigue, Depression Unapproved Liquid Morphine Can Still Be Sold in U.S.: FDA Acupuncture May Help Cancer Patients' Pain - Expert Pain Intensity Predicts Complexity of Cancer Pain Management Narcotic Patch Effective for Severe Cancer Pain Saying ''NO'' To Pain Killers - Why Some Do Massage May Ease Pain in Advanced Cancer Cancer Patients Often Misinterpret Opioid Treatment a Sign of Imminent Death Prescribing Factors and Patient Adherence Affect Cancer Pain Management Breast Cancer Pain Not Controlled As Well in Non-Whites Warning Issued About Pain Drug Fentora Tetrodotoxin May Be Effective in Patients with Severe Cancer Pain Time of Day That Once-a-day Morphine is Given Does not Affect Pain Control Gabapentin Improves Opioid Treatment of Neuropathic Cancer Pain Presurgical Hypnosis Reduces Patient's Pain Perception, Lowers Hospital Costs Canadian Pharmaceutical Company Backs Cannabis Drug for Cancer Pain Morphine Eases Pain, Doesn't Shorten Life Repeated Samarium Dosing Safe and Effective for Metastatic Bone Pain Multidisciplinary Approach to Pain Benefits End-Stage Cancer Patients Cancer Pain May Be Undertreated in Elderly New Cancer Pain Drug Approved IV Morphine Treats Pain Flares in Patients on Transdermal Buprenorphine Acetaminophen/Paracetamol Painkiller Blocked by Anti-Nausea Drugs Nalbuphine A Safe, Effective Long-Term Therapy for Severe Chronic Pain Transdermal Fentanyl Provides Safe, Effective Opioid Alternative for Children GW Pharma Gets U.S. Go-Ahead for Phase III Trials of Sativex in Cancer Pain Maker of Vioxx Criticized in Journal Editorial DPPE Added to Chemo Relieves Pain in Advanced Prostate Cancer Transdermal Fentanyl Effective for Pediatric Patients Shorter Duration Radiotherapy Suitable for Bone Mets Pain Relief Strontium-89 and Chemo Curb Bone Cancer Pain Pain Course Helps Cancer Patients and Partners Cryoablation Provides Effective Pain Control for Bone Mets Better Pain Control During Prostate Biopsy Freezing Tumors Reduces Cancer Pain Once-a-day Morphine May Give More Constant Pain Control When Fentanyl No Longer Works New FDA Approved Drug Offers Hope for Chronic Pain Suffers Multimodal Intervention of Limited Help in Cancer Pain Management British, French Drug Firms Lead On Marijuana Tests Massage Therapy Eases Many Cancer Patients' Ills High-Dose Morphine Safe For Home-Care Hospice Patients Hypnosis Effective In Relieving Cancer Pain Magnets May Not Really Work For Pain Aromatherapy May Soften Memory Of Pain Gabapentin Helps Reduce Neuropathic Cancer Pain New Painkiller Seems Easier on the Stomach New Technique Using Old Drug Eliminated Cancer Pain in Test Animals FDA Clears 2 Generic Forms of OxyContin Radiosurgery Helps With Painful Nerve Condition Better Pain Relief Possible For Pancreatic Cancer Patients Radiowave Treatment Provides Cancer Pain Relief U.S. Investigators Recommend Care on Painkillers Pamidronate No Help Against Metastatic Prostate Cancer Pain Methadone Not Great For Cancer Pain Spinal Drug Controls Pain from Cancer Fentanyl Patch Safe, Effective for Long-Term Relief of Cancer Pain Poison from Lethal Fish Could Be a Painkiller One-Shot Radiation Eases Cancer Bone Pain Guidelines Maximize Cancer Pain Control Dutch Approve Cannabis as Prescription Drug US Regulators Warn OxyContin Maker Over Ads Intranasal Morphine Performs Well in Phase II Copper-Zinc Bracelets for Pain? Save Your Money Drug for Opioid Constipation Effective in Phase III Trial British Study Warns of Health Danger of Cannabis Drug co., Fla. Make Pact to Thwart OxyContin Abuse Procedure Offers Relief of Intractable Bone Pain Implantable Device Better than Medical Care Alone for Refractory Cancer Pain UK Study Finds Cannabis Products Ease Severe Pain New Tools, Drugs Used to Blunt Post-Surgery Pain Panel Urges Tougher Warnings for Acetaminophen NSAIDs Reduce Need for Opioids in the Management of Cancer Pain Cancer Patients Get Inadequate Care for Pain: Panel The Sweet Smell of Pain Relief Promising Advance Detailed in Pain Control Medical Marijuana Backers Stage Protests Across US Cancer Patients Find Pain Relief Elusive: Studies Walking After Treating Spinal Metastasis Linked to Less Pain, Longer Survival Patient-Doc Communication Key to Cancer Pain Relief Patient Attitudes A Barrier To Pain Relief For Minority Cancer Patients OxyContin Painkiller Linked to More Than 400 Deaths Intrathecal Calcium Channel Blocker Effective For Severe Chronic Pain Relief of Breakthrough Cancer Pain ''Free'' Morphine In India Not Available To Many Who Need It Breakthrough Pain In Cancer Associated With Increased Medical Costs US Agents Raid California Medical Marijuana Club Ultrarapid Opioid Detox With Naltrexone Pellet Implantation Risky Panel: Drug Maker Not At Fault For OxyContin Abuse DEA: Company Marketing Linked To Painkiller Abuse OxyContin Maker Defends Reaction To Abuse Signs Cancer Pain Patients Fear Medication Side Effects Not Addiction Flick of the Wrist May Be Key to Acupuncture Effect DEA, Medical Groups Issue Joint Statement On Pain Drugs Safe And Effective IV Fentanyl-To-Methadone Conversion Ratio Described Terror Attacks Tied To Jump In Pain Problems Widespread Body Pain Linked To Doubled Risk Of Cancer Death Cannabis Spray Helps 77 Pct of Pain Patients-Study From Deadly Toxin to Chronic Pain Reliever For Those Who Need The Pain Relief, OxyContin Stigma Hurts Purdue Pharma Examining Naloxone To Curb Abuse Potential Of OxyContin States Make Strides on Medical Marijuana Programs - Stateline.org Novel Fentanyl Formulation Treats Breakthrough Pain In Cancer Patients Company Starts Canadian Medical Marijuana Trials OxyContin Maker Chose Not To Act To Stem Abuse: NY Times Safer Oxycontin Alternative in the Wings Women, Men Experience Pain Differently Canada Lets Terminally Ill Grow, Smoke Marijuana Pain Often First Sign Of Malignant Nerve Sheath Tumors In Neurofibromatosis FDA: Pain Medication to Get New Warning Label Alternative Therapy Expectations Affect Results Aggressive Control Of Pain And Fatigue Can Reduce Other Symptoms Marijuana No Wonderdrug Coaching Sessions Help Cancer Patients Fight Pain UK Cannabis Tests Offer Pain Sufferers New Hope Suing For Pain Relief Terminally Ill Patients In Pain Often Shun Medication Physicians Divided on Medical Marijuana VA To Launch Palliative Care Fellowship Guidelines Give Patients Tools To Fight Cancer Pain FDA Reviewing Danger of Acetaminophen New Pathway Of Pain Discovered More Study Needed In Cancer Pain Management Severe Anesthetic Shortages Strike U.S. Hospitals Pelvic Perfusion Method Safe And Effective Palliation For Recurrent Rectal Cancer Hospitals Wince Over Pain Ratings Painkiller Makes It Big on Black Market Survey Finds Barriers To Palliative Care Of Seriously Ill Children Relief From Bone Pain For Prostate Cancer Patients Program Improves Pain Assessment And Documentation Hospitals Now Ask''Where Does It Hurt?'' Sumatriptan May Ease Refractory Headache In Head And Neck Cancer Intranasal Fentanyl Citrate Helpful In Cancer-Related Breakthrough Pain More Attention Being Paid In US To Palliative Care Palliative Surgery Can Benefit Patients With Kidney Cancer Spread To Bone Intravenous Morphine Has Greater Potency In Women Just One Dose Of Radiation Helps Cancer Bone Pain Study Finds Morphine Use Does NOT Hasten Death in Terminal Patients Medtronic Implantable Drug Pump Approved By FDA Treating Pain at the End of Life Complementary Pain Therapies Relieving Cancer Pain by Blocking the Flow of Pain Feelings to the Brain Acupuncture: The Oldest - and Newest - Treatment for Pain Relief Using Narcotics to Treat Cancer Pain Non-Prescription Pain Relievers: The First Step in Treating Cancer Pain The Importance of Communicating Pain Breast Pain and Other Benign Breast Changes The Emotional Impact of Cancer Pain Cancer Pain in Kids Understanding the Mechanism of Cancer Pain Measuring and Addressing Cancer Pain British Biotech Firm Gets Pain Medicine Approval for English Patients Physicians Often Reluctant to Treat Cancer Pain Aggressively An Overview of Managing Cancer Pain British Medical Association Backs Acupuncture The authors: Richard Zmuda