Relieving Cancer-Related Pain

Cancer comes attached to many physical and emotional changes and pain is one of those symptoms that many people have to face - whether its pain related to the disease itself or to the treatment used to tackle the disease. A cancer diagnosis can make you feel very out of control - it seems that so much is out of your hands. But this does not mean that patients must accept the pain that they are experiencing. There are ways to help manage and even extinguish the physical pain related to cancer and its treatment.

First and foremost, it’s important to work with your doctor to determine the source of your pain - is it connected to the cancer and how its impacting your body or is it related to the treatment you are receiving for this cancer. Identifying the source will help your doctor determine the best course for managing that pain. Your doctor may ask for you to keep a written record of your pain so that the timing and level of pain can be further examined. Your doctor may also refer you to a pain specialist who works directly with cancer patients for helping to manage symptoms. In these cases, medications may be prescribed to help manage pain. There are many, many different types of pain medication; your medical team will work with you to determine the best medicines to try.

Some other non-medical options for relieving pain include:

• Relaxation techniques such as meditation, visualization, hypnotherapy, and more.
• Acupuncture.
• Massage.

More often than not, it’s a combination of several different treatment plans that eventually brings relief. It may take some time to figure out the best "cocktail" for pain relief, but in the end it’s worth the time it takes to make this determination to end pain and put control back in your hands.

About the Center

Southlake Oncology is a Choice Cancer Care facility. Using state-of-the-art treatment processes, doctors here deliver expert care with compassion. Within the clinic our patients will find a peaceful, spa-like atmosphere, an experienced and trained medical staff, and our board certified medical oncology and hematology physicians Dr. James Mackey and Dr. Kiran Kancharla. Southlake Oncology also offers ample and convenient free parking to all of our patients and family members. Visit southlakeoncology.com for more information on treatment options available at their centers.