Cancer pain typically occurs when cancer spreads and affects nerves and other organs. When this happens, your healthcare provider may prescribe medication to help you manage your pain.
Read on to find out more about the different kinds of pain you may experience with cancer. If you notice any new or other types of pain, let your healthcare provider know immediately. It may be easily treated and nothing to worry about, but you should evaluate it as soon as possible.
Acute Pain
Acute pain refers to pain that is short-lived and the cause can be easily identified, such as from an activity or injury. This type of pain can come and go. It may also increase over time.
Chronic Pain
Chronic pain lasts longer than three months. Healthcare providers often have a tough time treating chronic pain because it can be hard to pinpoint.
Somatic Pain
Somatic pain is pain that is felt in the tissues of the body, like the bones, muscles, joints, and ligaments. It does not start in the internal organs but in the tissues surrounding them.
This kind of pain is often said to feel like stabbing pain or aching pain.
Neuropathic Pain
Neuropathic pain is often described as a burning or tingling sensation. It is caused by injury to one or multiple components of the nervous system (nerves, spine, or brain). The injury can include a tumor putting pressure on the spinal cord or nerves.
Chemotherapy or radiation can also cause chemical or radiation damage to the nervous system resulting in pain.
Visceral Pain
The viscera are the soft, internal organs that are in areas of the body, like the chest, abdomen, and pelvis. So, visceral pain is pain felt in an organ in one of these areas. The origin of this kind of pain can be hard to locate exactly, as it can feel diffuse and wide-ranging.
Once the type of pain has been established, then it is categorized into either acute pain or chronic pain.
Signs That Pain May Be Due to Cancer
The following are signs that your pain could be related to a cancer diagnosis:
Pain is worse at night. Pain is not associated with trauma or a fall. Pain is associated with signs like weight loss, bleeding, fever, or general malaise. Back pain that is worse when bearing down.
If you experience any of these types of pain, call your healthcare provider.
Summary
There are various kinds of pain, and knowing more about each type of pain can help you better describe the pain to your treatment team. Pain can be due to factors other than cancer, including treatment. Therefore, it’s important not to panic when you notice any new type of pain. Be sure to consult with your healthcare provider, however.
A Word From Verywell
Pain does not have to be part of having cancer. If you are experiencing any pain, talk with your treatment team. They can evaluate your pain to locate its source, prescribe medication if necessary, and provide you with resources and remedies that can help relieve your pain. You don’t have to suffer during your treatment.
