Cancer Pain

What is Cancer Pain and How Is it Caused?

Many people do not realize that many cancer patients experience varying degrees of pain. While some may experience none, others can be bedridden from the pain.

Cancer pain depends on many factors like the stage of the cancer, where the tumor is located, and general pain tolerance of the patient.
[br}Cancer pain can be caused for a variety of reasons such as:

• A tumor that is putting pressure on a nerve
  
  
• Infection
  
  
• Chemotherapy/Radiation can be a source of pain due to side effects
  
  
• Inflammation
  
  
• Poor blood circulation because of blocked vessels

Cancer pain is especially prevalent cases in which the cancer has spread, or metastasized to the bone. Bone fractures can also occur as a result of metastasis to the bone. In fact, up to 80% of patients who have bone metastasis experience pain.

It is estimated that up to 50% of cancer patients who have pain, are undertreated. The first step in treating cancer pain is to remove the tumor when possible. Then, pain can be treated in many ways, under the supervision of a pain management team.