Some cancers and some treatments for cancer can cause some painful side effects. The drugs can damage nerves, leading to burning, numbness, tingling or shooting pain, most often in the fingers or toes. Some drugs can also cause mouth sores, headaches, muscle pains, and stomach pains. Not everyone with cancer or who receives chemotherapy experiences pain from the disease or its treatment. But if you do, it can be relieved. The first step to take is to talk with your doctor, nurse, and pharmacist about your pain. They need to know as many details about your pain as possible. You may want to describe your pain to your family and friends. They can help you talk to your caregivers about your pain, especially if you are too tired or in too much pain to talk to them yourself.

Important details to report to your doctor or nurse

• Where you feel pain
• What it feels like - sharp, dull, throbbing, steady
• How strong the pain feels
• How long it lasts
• What eases the pain and what makes the pain worse
• What medicines you are taking for the pain and how much relief you get from them

What you can do at home

The goal of pain control is to prevent pain that can be prevented and treat the pain that can't.

• If you have persistent or chronic pain, take your pain medicine on a regular schedule.
• Do not skip doses of your scheduled pain medicine. If you wait to take pain medicine until you feel pain, it is harder to control.
• Try using relaxation exercises at the same time you take medicine for the pain. This may help to lessen tension, reduce anxiety, and manage pain.
• Some people with chronic or persistent pain that is usually controlled by medicine can have breakthrough pain. This occurs when moderate to severe pain “breaks through” or is felt for a short time. If you experience this pain, use a short-acting medicine ordered by your doctor. Don't wait for the pain to get worse. If you do, it may be harder to control.
• Apply heat or cold to the area experiencing pain.
• Try visualization, guided imagery, or massage.
• Use distraction techniques such as music, hobbies, and movies.

Call for professional help when needed

Many different medicines and methods are available to control cancer pain. If you are in pain and your doctor has no further suggestions, ask to see a pain specialist.

"Symptom Management" - Table of Contents >>  Suggestions for Coping with Care at Home >>  Anemia >>  Anxiety >>  Bleeding >>  Body Image Changes >>  Breathing Problems >>  Change and Uncertainty >>  Constipation >>  Dehydration >>  Depression >>  Diarrhea >>  Fatigue >>  Fever >>  Hair Loss >>  Infection >>  Kidney and Bladder Effects >>  Memory and Concentration >>  Mouth Pain/ Mucositis >>  Nausea and Vomiting >>  Nerve and Muscle Effects >>  Pain >>  Sexuality >>  Sleep Disturbances >>  White Blood Cells >>  Symptom Notes