What Are the Two Main Causes of Mesothelioma Cancer Pain? By Bello Kamorudeen At Isnare.com Ezine Articles

Pain is most often caused by the mesothelioma cancer itself.Mesothelioma pain can also be due to the treatment or the tests done to diagnose cancer. You may also have pain that has nothing to do with your cancer or its treatment. Like anyone, you can get headaches, muscle strains, and other aches and pains.

1- Pain from the cancer

The type and the intensity of the pain you will experience depends on the stage of the cancer and your own pain threshold{tolerance for pain},we all have different to tolerance levels for pain.Most of the pain from the mesothelioma cancer is a as result of the tumor pressing on other sensitive organs like nerves, bones and other body organs.The more advanced the cancer the more likely the tumor will cause pain.

Spinal cord compression: When the tumor spreads to the spine, it can press on the spinal cord. This is called spinal cord compression. This pressure causes pain. It must be treated quickly to keep you from losing control of your bladder or bowel or being paralyzed. The first sign of the compression is usually back and/or neck pain. Coughing, sneezing, or other movements often make it worse. If you have this pain, get help right away. Your doctor can treat the cause of the pain and also give you medicine to relieve the pain. If you are treated for the compression soon after the pain begins, you can usually avoid serious outcomes such as bladder or bowel problems. Treatments usually involve radiation therapy to shrink the tumor. Or you may have surgery to remove the tumor followed by radiation.

Bone pain: This type of pain can happen when cancer spreads to the bones. Treatment may be aimed at controlling the cancer, or it can focus on the affected bones. External radiation may be aimed at the weakened bone. Sometimes a radioactive medicine is given that settles in the affected areas of bone and help to make them stronger. Bisphosphonates are other medicines that can help make diseased bones stronger and help keep bones from breaking. These are examples of treatments that are aimed at stopping the cause of the bone pain. You may still need opioids or other pain medicines, but sometimes these treatments can greatly reduce your pain.

2- Pain from procedures and surgery

Procedures and testing: Some tests used to diagnose cancer and to see how well the treatment is working are painful. If you and your doctors agree that such a procedure is needed, concern about pain should not keep you from having it done. Usually any pain you have during and after the procedure can be relieved. Your needs and the type of procedure to be done should dictate the kinds of medicine you can get for the pain. You may be told that the pain from the procedure can't be avoided or that it won't last long. Even so, you should ask for pain medicine if you need it.

Surgical pain: Surgery is often used to treat cancers that grow as solid tumors, but other treatments such as radiation or chemotherapy may also be given. Depending on the kind of surgery you have, some amount of pain is usually expected. Doctors prescribe pain medicines so that you do not have to be in pain when your surgery is over. If you tell your doctor or nurse that you are hurting after surgery, you can almost always get medicine to treat it right away. Pain due to surgery can last from a few days to a few weeks, depending on how extensive the surgery was.

Pain from other cancer treatments

Chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatments can also cause pain in some people.This pain might discourage you from continuing with the treatment if it is not managed well. Talk to your doctor or nurse about any changes you notice or any pain you have. Some of the types of pain that can be caused by chemotherapy and radiotherapy are:

Peripheral neuropathy (PN): This condition refers to pain, burning, tingling, numbness, weakness, clumsiness, trouble walking, or unusual sensations in the hands and arms or legs and feet. Peripheral neuropathy can be caused by certain types of chemotherapy, though vitamin deficiencies, the cancer, and other problems can also cause it. Be sure and tell your doctor right away if you notice these kinds of problems.

Mouth sores (stomatitis or mucositis): Chemotherapy can cause sores and pain in the mouth and throat. The pain can be severe enough that people have trouble eating and drinking.

Radiation mucositis and other radiation injuries: Pain from external beam radiation depends on the part of the body that is treated. It can cause skin burns, mucositis (mouth sores), and scarring, all of which can result in pain. The throat, intestine, and bladder are also prone to radiation injury and you may have pain if these areas are treated.

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