Pain management is particularly important for cancer patients, considering one in three patients continues to experience pain after treatment.
If you have pain, the severity and prevalence of your pain may depend on many factors, including the type and stage of your cancer, your treatment plan and your tolerance for pain. You may experience pain from the cancer itself, or as a side effect of cancer treatment. Those with advanced cancer are most likely to have severe pain.
Cancer pain may result from:
A tumor putting pressure on tissues, bones, nerves or organs
Poor blood circulation because the cancer has blocked blood vessels
Blockage of an organ or tube in the body, such as the kidneys or bladder
Side effects of surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy or other cancer treatments
Metastasis, or cancer cells that have spread to other locations in the body
Pain that is completely independent from cancer or cancer treatment (e.g., headaches, backaches, muscle strains, arthritis or other common pains)
Pain management may improve quality of life at any stage of cancer, so managing your pain is our priority. Our pain management team uses a variety of modalities to treat and control pain, including:
Prescription medications
Implanted pain pumps
Nerve block therapies
Physical therapy
Massage therapy
Relaxation techniques and guided imagery
Psychology Services