Lung Cancer Pain Management

Lung cancer pain doesn't happen to everyone who has lung cancer - especially not in the early stages of the disease. However, one person in four will experience some form of pain when they have the disease and will need lung cancer pain management.

Lung cancer pain usually feels like a dull ache. It typically occurs in the chest area, where the lung cancer tumor may press against a nerve, organ, bone, or some other tissue.

But lung cancer can also cause pain in other parts of the body through paraneoplastic syndromes. These are indirect effects of cancer that cause pain or discomfort in remote areas of the body. These can include pain from

• clubbing of fingers, which occurs when deposits of extra tissue under the fingernails
• additional bone formation in the lower legs or arms
• uncomfortable skin rashes
• muscle pain and weakness, along with a general deterioration of your health. This can cause disruption of motor skills due to changes in your skeletal structure.

These paraneoplastic syndromes are not directly related to the lung tumor itself, but are nonetheless a result of the cancer.

Lung cancer pain does not feel the same to everyone. Your level of pain depends on what kind of lung cancer you have, the stage it has reached, and your overall pain tolerance (some people are able to tolerate pain better than others).

Managing lung cancer pain There are ways to reduce and control lung cancer pain. If you have lung cancer, you can work with your doctor or a pain specialist to get relief. They might recommend any of the following lung cancer pain management options.

Shrinking the lung cancer tumor with radiation If the lung tumor is smaller, it's less likely to pressure nerves or other organs that are nearby.

Pain medications and pain relievers There are many of these available. Your doctor may prescribe some, and of course there are a number of pain relievers you can buy over the counter. Always talk to your doctor about what is likely to work best for you. Also be aware that even over-the-counter pain relievers sometimes have side effects like drowsiness or constipation.

There's also the possibility of becoming addicted to some of the more powerful narcotic pain relievers. But this risk is usually small.

Alternative lung cancer treatments Sometimes treatments like acupuncture, acupressure and massage can help relieve pain. Some people prefer relaxation techniques like listening to soothing music or yoga.

You may want to learn something about techniques like biofeedback, which helps you consciously control feelings and sensations that are normally controlled unconsciously. Hypnosis is another possibility. Even aromatherapy can help some people.
 
Nerve blocks Doctors sometimes have success managing lung cancer pain by injecting alcohol into the area around the tumor. This serves to block pain messages from reaching the brain.

Specialists who help manage lung cancer pain say it's important to take action to relieve pain as soon as you feel it. It's possible to control a lot of the pain you may feel from lung cancer. It's especially to tell your doctor or your medical team where the pain it and how much you have. This will help them design a pain management program that's right for you.

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