Pain complaints are among the main reasons for consulting a doctor in cancer, where early diagnosis is of great importance for the success of treatment. In addition, patients may experience severe pain during the cancer treatment process.
What causes cancer pain?
Cancer pain is defined as chronic, severe pain that negatively affects the patient’s quality of life and is felt continuously or for short periods of time. Damage to tissues caused by cancer, bone fractures due to metastases, circulatory disorders resulting from blockage of blood vessels, infections, inflammations, and pressure on nerves by cancerous tumors can cause pain. In addition, surgical interventions and methods such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy, which are frequently used in treatment, can also cause pain.
What is cancer pain? How does it occur?
They are severe dull pains that occur due to cancer and/or as an effect of cancer treatments. Cancer damages tissues and causes circulatory disorders; in the case of metastasis, bone fractures, inflammation, infection, and the tumor pressing on nerves may occur. All of these cause pain. On the other hand, surgeries, chemotherapy and radiotherapy methods also cause pain in the body. The advanced stage of cancer is the process in which pain is most intense, widespread and severe.
What are the symptoms of cancer pain?
Cancer can cause pain in different parts of the body. Chronic cancer pain can be constant, but in some cases it can present itself as short-term, severe pain.
Diagnosis of cancer pain
The diagnosis of cancer is made by oncologists. After the stage, type of cancer and cancerous areas are determined, the treatment plan that will increase the patient’s quality of life is created by algology specialists depending on the patient’s ongoing complaints about pain.
How is cancer pain treated?
Treatment for cancer pain is carried out according to the cause of the pain. In cases where drug treatment is not successful and the patient has difficulty continuing their daily life with pain, interventional pain treatments are applied. Some of the methods used in the treatment of cancer pain are listed as follows:
- Painkillers
- Morphine derivatives
- Antidepressants
- Antiepileptics
- Nerve blocks
- Radiofrequency applications of nerves and nerve nodes
- Temporary or permanent epidural catheter placement
- Pain pumps
- Pain pacemaker (spinal cord stimulation)