Tumor pain or cancer pain is one of the bad disease symptoms of cancer. The pain is very severe in many cancer patients and therefore has a negative impact on the patient’s well-being. Therefore, they absolutely require individualized treatment by an experienced pain therapist who is familiar with medication for tumor pain.
What is tumor pain?
Tumor pain always occurs in association with cancer and can reach very high levels of pain intensity. Approximately two-thirds of cancer patients suffer from tumor pain during the course of their disease, and approximately 90 percent in the terminal stage. Since tumor pain leads to a considerable impairment of the cancer patient’s quality of life, good treatment with painkillers is absolutely essential. Depending on the region of the body where the cancer is located, tumor pain can affect a wide variety of body sites.
Causes
Tumor pain can be caused either by the cancer tumor or the cancer itself, or by metastases that have spread throughout the cancer patient’s body during the course of the disease. Due to their size and growth, the tumor or metastases can press on or grow into surrounding organs or nerves, causing severe tumor pain. Inflammation caused by tumor growth can also be responsible for tumor pain. Another cause of tumor pain is the treatment of the cancer, for example surgery or amputation of the affected part of the body. In addition, drugs used in cancer therapy can have severe side effects. For example, chemotherapy or radiation often causes tumor pain in patients with cancer.
Symptoms, complaints, and signs
Tumor pain occurs regularly in cancer patients. It results either from the tumor itself or from treatment. Physicians distinguish between real discomfort, phantom pain and signs that have psychological causes. It is not always possible to differentiate between the named characteristics. The intensity of the pain varies greatly among those affected. The location and type of tumor can be decisive factors. Emerging pain is described very differently by tumor patients. Therefore, no clear classification can be established. Attributes often mentioned are pulling, burning and throbbing. A feeling of heat in the affected areas is also often present. The subjective experience is treated in pain therapy. Medication is used to specifically combat the causes and enable a symptom-free daily routine. The treatment of a tumor is not infrequently associated with negative side effects. Patients then complain of mucosal inflammation or [[scar pain. While these complaints can be clearly localized, many other symptoms are more psychological in nature. Affected individuals complain of anxiety and depression. Regular sleep is no longer possible at night. The ability to concentrate is greatly reduced. Affected persons are often exhausted. Phantom limb pain occurs in repeated attacks. They are often related to cancer-related removal of organs and body parts.
Diagnosis and course
Because tumor pain always occurs in association with cancer, most patients already have comprehensive findings that were obtained during cancer diagnosis. These include, for example, imaging findings such as MRI or CT of the bones, spine, and brain. These findings are also helpful and interesting for the work of the pain therapist, as they enable him to gain an overview of the cancer patient’s physical situation and thus initiate suitable therapy against the tumor pain. If necessary, he will arrange for further examinations to obtain even more information about the causes of the tumor pain and the patient with cancer. With the help of appropriate medication, a significant improvement in the quality of life as well as relief from tumor pain can be achieved in most cases.
Complications
Tumor pain represents a physical and psychological burden for the affected person. In addition to the typical pain, which intensifies as the disease progresses, sleep disturbances may also develop.Poor night sleep leads, among other things, to reduced performance, concentration problems and mood swings. Well-being and quality of life decrease sharply and promote depressive moods and anxiety disorders. Some patients develop a pronounced depression in connection with cancer, which in many cases persists after recovery. Should the patient attempt to reduce tumor pain by self measures such as scratching or pressing on the tumor, this may cause the growth to slip or even rupture. In this case, serious complications can occur and the patient must be treated immediately. The treatment of tumor pain is relatively risk-free for the patient. However, since very strong painkillers are used in most cases, side effects cannot be ruled out. Often the prescribed opiates cause memory disorders and make the patient physically and mentally less capable. It also cannot be ruled out that addictive behavior may develop in the sufferer.
When should one go to the doctor?
In principle, if pain is present, a doctor should be consulted for clarification of the symptoms. Since the pain leads to a severe impairment of the quality of life, it should be clarified and examined by a specialist. If the intensity of the pain increases or if other areas of life are affected, it is advisable to have the disease checked by a doctor. Despite a diagnosed tumor and regular treatment, pain or changes in known symptoms should be discussed with the attending physician. This will allow corrections to an existing treatment plan. Consultation with a medical professional should also be sought if the pain is sporadic and there are periods of freedom from symptoms. In addition, if the impairments and irregularities occur spontaneously in the course of daily life, restructuring of daily routines is strongly advised. Dangerous situations may arise due to the tumor pain, resulting in an increased risk of accidents. If there are further irregularities, optical changes or restrictions of the movement possibilities, likewise a physician is needed. In case of a general weakness, sleep disturbances, interruptions of the concentration as well as attention deficits, the affected person needs medical help. If daily responsibilities can no longer be met or the sufferer is dependent on the continued support of others, the changes should be discussed with a physician.
Treatment and therapy
For the setting and dosing of tumor pain medications, it is very helpful if the treating oncologist works with a pain management specialist who is considered an expert in the treatment of tumor pain. The World Health Organization has developed a step-by-step plan for treating the cancer patient with pain medications, which pain therapists follow. Depending on the type of pain, for example whether it is acute or chronic, the pain therapist will recommend different medications that are individually adapted to the situation of the particular cancer patient. In most cases, very strong pain medications such as opiates are used, which are not supposed to be addictive in tumor patients. Often, these are combined with other agents to permanently improve the patient’s pain situation. By combining suitable pain medications, a significant improvement in tumor pain and thus in the quality of life of the patient with cancer can be achieved in most cases. Pain medication for tumor pain can be taken either in tablet or patch form. The option of a pain pump should also be considered for severe tumor pain. In addition, experienced pain therapists include the patient’s psychosocial situation in the treatment of tumor pain.
Prevention
True prevention is difficult with tumor pain. Only attempts can be made to prevent the development of cancer through preventive examinations and a healthy lifestyle. If the first signs of tumor pain occur in the context of a cancer disease, treatment tailored to the individual patient by a good pain therapist should be initiated as soon as possible.In this way, tumor pain can be prevented from worsening the pain situation and thus the well-being of the cancer patient.
Aftercare
In tumor pain, follow-up usually proves to be relatively difficult. In many cases, the pain can only be limited for a short time, but it cannot be completely cured. Therefore, in this disease, the affected person should see a doctor early and initiate treatment to avoid other complications or discomfort in the further course. Early detection of the tumor can prevent it from spreading in the body. In the case of tumor pain, regular checks and examinations by a doctor are also very important in order to detect further complaints at an early stage. Most of those affected are dependent on taking various medications. It is always important to ensure that the medication is taken regularly and in the correct dosage in order to counteract the pain properly. If anything is unclear, a doctor should be consulted first. As with any other tumor disease, tumor pain should be supported and cared for by one’s family. This can also significantly reduce depression and other psychological upsets. The further course of this cannot be predicted in general, as it depends very much on the course of the tumor disease.
What you can do yourself
Tumor pain is a typical accompanying symptom of cancer. However, there are some measures that can reduce the pain and thereby improve well-being. If pain occurs, the physician must first be informed. The physician can clarify the cause of the discomfort and prescribe a suitable antidote. If necessary, another specialist can be involved in the treatment. When planning painkiller therapy, good planning is essential so that sufficient medication is available during weekends and holidays. If necessary, emergency medical services can be contacted. Alternative measures promise additional help. These include heat and cold therapy, massage or physiotherapy. Stimulation also alleviates discomfort and improves well-being. In consultation with the doctor, acupuncture and acupressure can be tried. Some patients also benefit from electrotherapy, which uses electric shocks to activate nerves and muscles, thereby regulating pain sensation. Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation is also an effective treatment for tumor pain. Muscle tension is best relieved by relaxation and massage. Typical relaxation methods such as yoga or Jacobson progressive muscle relaxation are equally effective. If the pain is severe or does not subside, medical advice is recommended.
