Pain

Chronic Pain in Cancer Survivors

Source: American Cancer Society, Medscape, American Cancer Society, National Center for Biotechnology Information: U.S. National Library of Medicine: National Institutes of Health

Do you find this helpful

Print

Share

Save

Chronic pain is one of the most common long-term effects of cancer and cancer treatments. Approximately one in three cancer survivors deals with chronic pain (pain that occurs most days for at least six months). This is nearly double the rate of chronic pain cases in the general population. In addition, approximately one in six cancer survivors face high-impact chronic pain, meaning their pain interferes with daily activities.

Chronic pain can have several negative consequences:

Lack of adequate sleep
Difficulty maintaining relationships with family or friends
Difficulty working or keeping a job
Emotional distress, including anxiety and depression
High health care costs
Decreased quality of life

Cancer survivors who deal with chronic pain should discuss it with their physicians even if the pain occurs months or years after treatments end. Pain can result from various causes, including nerve or tissue damage or additional tumors. It is important to discuss pain with a medical professional in order to identify the cause and the best way to treat it.

Many pain management options are available. While pain may not always be completely eliminated, there are treatments to help control it. If necessary, an individual can request a referral to a pain management specialist.

Did you find this helpful?

Topics

Cancer-Related PainPain by ConditionPain

You may also like

Skin Reactions to Nerve Pain Conditions

Infographic: Chronic Pain. An Invisible Condition

Plasma Exchange Therapy for Nerve Pain Conditions

Autologous Conditioned Serum as a Treatment for Neuropathic Pain

10 Health Conditions Associated With Nerve Pain

Living with Chronic Pain

Chronic Pain Conditions a Dentist Can Help Treat

Living with Chronic Pain

12 Diagnostic Tests for Chronic Pain Conditions

Infographic: Back Pain in America. Common Conditions & Procedures

Living with Chronic Pain

Potential Issues Conceiving A Child Due to a Chronic Pain Condition

Cancer-Related Pain

Pain is often a symptom or complication of cancer. The type, severity and duration of pain depends on the type of cancer, the stage, any metastasis, and individual pain tolerance. Cancer treatments, such as radiation, chemotherapy, and surgery, can cause pain and may also lead to chronic pain...

Pain Scales

Pain scales and pain inventories are tools used by health care professionals to objectively assess pain. They can be used to gauge the level of either acute or chronic pain. Because pain is multifaceted and presents differently for each person, pain scales are an effective way for individuals to...

Pain Theories

Numerous theories about the nature of pain have been proposed over the years. The medical community’s understanding of pain continually evolves as more research is completed and new theories about the nature of pain are proposed.

What Is Pain?

Chest Pain

Chest pain can be experienced for various reasons. The type of pain also varies per individual. While some chest pain requires immediate medical attention, others, although scary, do not pose a threat to life. Chest pain causes may include cardiac, pulmonary, vascular, anxiety, gastrointestinal...

Facial Pain

Facial pain is pain that is felt in any part of the face, including the eyes and mouth. There are a variety of issues that can cause facial pain, including disorder that can cause severe, chronic facial pain.

Leg Pain

Leg pain can affect the entire leg or a specific area, such as the knee, shin or thigh. Mild leg pain can be intermittent and sore following certain activities, while severe pain can limit weight-bearing or motion activities. Pain can be caused by wear and tear, overuse, or injuries to the joints...

Abdominal Pain

Although the abdomen is often thought of as the stomach, the abdomen actually includes the entire area of the body from the chest down to the pelvis. Abdominal pain can originate from the stomach, intestines, kidney, liver, spleen, gallbladder or pancreas.

Wrist Pain

The wrist is intricate joint connecting the hand to the forearm. It is comprised of 8 carpal bones, radius and ulna, and 5 metacarpal bones. All of these bones allow for the mobility of the hand. Wrist pain can occur as a result of injuries, repetitive use, or specific conditions, such as...

Back Pain

Back pain is one of the most common reasons people go to the doctor, and can be caused by wear and tear, overuse or injury to back muscles, bones, nerves, or discs. The most common causes of back pain are muscular irritation and joint dysfunction.

Pain Clinic

A pain clinic is a location where multiple doctors and provide procedures to reduce pain. These clinics provide assistance through medication as well as other treatments that include managing pain through physical, behavioral, and psychological methods. Your treatment team may recommend changes in...