Easing the Pain of Lung Cancer

For people experiencing significant pain from either their lung cancer itself or the side effects of lung cancer treatment, pain management is a very important part of the overall treatment plan. Fortunately, there are many options available to you, from medication to alternative therapies.

Lung Cancer: The Sources of Pain

People with lung cancer may experience different types of pain including:

• Pain caused by the cancerous tumor itself. This may be because the tumor in your lungs is pressing on nerves in your spine, resulting in chest or back pain.
• Pain caused by cancer that has spread to other places in the body. If your cancer has spread to your bones, you probably will experience bone pain; for instance. if the cancer has spread to the ribs or spine, it can cause chest or back pain. Cancer that has spread to the liver may cause pain in your abdomen. And cancer that spreads to the brain can result in headaches.
• Pain due to your lung cancer treatment. After surgery, you're likely to experience pain and soreness that will last a few days or weeks as you recover. Chemotherapy and radiation treatments for lung cancer may result in pain as well. This pain may be caused by the chemotherapy medications themselves, the radiation that is targeting your cancer, or vitamin deficiencies or other side effects that result from your lung cancer treatment.

Lung Cancer: Pain Management

How your pain is treated will largely depend on the extent and cause. Pain management strategies may include:

• Medications. Some lung cancer–related pain can be managed with over-the-counter medications, like acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin.) In cases of more severe pain, other medications such as opioids can help relieve pain. Because these require a prescription from your doctor, you shouldn't wait to discuss your pain level with him or her. You don't need to suffer, so if you're in pain, don't wait until your next office visit or treatment appointment. If you are unable to make the call yourself, ask your caregiver to do it for you.
• Radiation. For pain that is caused by cancer that has spread to the bones, radiation therapy can be used to shrink the tumor and help reduce discomfort.
• Surgery. In some cases, surgery to remove part or the whole tumor can be used to relieve your pain. Surgery can also be used to cut nerves and relieve pain.
• Nerve blocks. Medications that target nerves can be given by injection to control pain.
• Alternative strategies. Relaxation therapy, biofeedback, imagery, hypnosis, nerve stimulation, acupuncture, exercise, physical therapy, and counseling have all been shown to help manage pain that is related to cancer. While many of these approaches involve a health practitioner, you can do some of them, like relaxation therapy and imagery, at home and on your own.

If you are experiencing pain related to your lung cancer, alert your medical team. They can recommend strategies to help alleviate your pain so that it doesn't become a controlling factor in your life.