How is cancer pain managed?

Pain control often starts with medicine. Many drugs are used to treat pain. You and your doctor may need to adjust your medicine as your pain changes. Your doctor may suggest different drugs, combinations of drugs, or higher doses.

For a tumor that causes pain, removing or destroying all or part of the tumor, if possible, often helps. Doctors use chemotherapy, radiation, or surgery to do this.

There are many other ways to control cancer pain, including:

• Heat or cold.
• Splints or braces.
• Massage.
• Treatments that help you cope better with the pain, such as relaxation exercises, biofeedback, or guided imagery.
• Drugs you can buy without a prescription, such as ibuprofen, aspirin, or acetaminophen.
• Stronger drugs your doctor can prescribe. These include:
  • Drugs that relieve pain and swelling.
  • Mouthwashes that help with mouth sores.
  • Very strong painkillers.
  • Drugs used to treat depression. These drugs can relieve pain and help you sleep.
  • Some of the drugs used to treat seizures. These drugs help control burning and tingling pain caused by nerve damage.
  • Skin creams that help relieve pain.

Nerve blocks may help with very bad pain. Drugs are injected right into the nerve that affects the painful area. They provide short-term pain relief by preventing the nerve from sending pain signals.

Learning as much as you can about your pain may help. Emotional support from your friends and family may also help. Many people use other kinds of treatment, such as acupuncture and aromatherapy.