Pain is common in cancer and is perceived differently from individual to individual. Your pain can only be treated effectively if you talk to your treatment team about it. Pain is not inevitable and does not have to be endured.
Pain persisting for 3 months is defined as chronic. It no longer has a protective function for the body. It no longer serves as a warning sign as in the case of a burn, for example. Cancer pain should therefore be systematically treated.
Chronic pain has repercussions both on your body and on your wellbeing. This pain is often difficult to describe. It is often experienced as debilitating and can trigger stress and its consequences.
The main treatments used for cancer pain are tumour therapy and pain medicines. However, there are also other options: for example, relaxation techniques or the application of heat/cold. The treatment team will help you to find the right combination for you.
Physiotherapy
For some kinds of pain, treatment by a physiotherapist may give you additional help. Talk to your treatment team about this.
Interventional pain specialists
Als weitere Schmerztherapie kann eine direkte Medikamenteninfusion oder eine gezielte Verödung der schmerzleitenden Nerven durch interventionelle Schmerzspezialisten helfen. Sprechen Sie mit Ihrem Behandlungsteam darüber.
Psycho-oncology support
It may be that the psychological stress of the underlying disease intensifies your perception of pain. Psycho-oncologists can give you and your family additional support in processing the disease with counselling sessions. Ask your treatment team for a recommendation.
Further information on this topic
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