Cancer Pain

What is Cancer Pain?

Cancer pain refers to pain caused either by the cancer itself, by treatments such as surgery, chemotherapy, or radiation, or by complications of the disease. It may be acute (short-term and intense) or chronic (persistent and ongoing).

Pain can significantly affect quality of life, sleep, mood, mobility, and independence. Up to half of people with cancer experience moderate to severe pain during their illness, but the majority can find meaningful relief with the right care.

Causes of Cancer Pain

Cancer pain may arise from several sources:

• Tumor-related pain – tumors pressing on nerves, bones, or organs
• Bone metastases – one of the most common and painful complications
• Nerve pain – from tumor invasion or chemotherapy-induced neuropathy
• Post-surgical pain – persistent pain following cancer-related surgery
• Radiation or chemotherapy effects – tissue inflammation, fibrosis, or nerve injury
• Other complications – infections, pressure sores, or vascular blockages

Common Symptoms

The character of cancer pain depends on its cause:

• Aching, pressure, or throbbing pain (from tumors or bone involvement)
• Burning, shooting, or tingling pain (nerve-related pain)
• Breakthrough pain – sudden flares despite background medication
• Pain at rest or during movement – restricting daily activities and mobility

Cancer pain is often multifactorial, requiring a combination of therapies for effective relief.

How We Diagnose and Assess Cancer Pain

At Pain & Vascular Institute, we perform a comprehensive pain assessment:

• History and exam: onset, location, severity, triggers, and functional impact
• Pain mapping: differentiating tumor-related vs. treatment-related pain
• Imaging and labs: evaluating for bone metastases, spinal involvement, or nerve compression
• Medication review: checking prior pain therapies, effectiveness, and side effects

This personalized assessment helps us design the most effective care plan.

Treatment Options for Cancer Pain

Cancer pain care is individualized, multimodal, and compassionate. Our goal is to provide relief while minimizing side effects, helping patients maintain dignity and quality of life.

1. Medications

• Non-opioids: acetaminophen, NSAIDs for bone and soft tissue pain
• Neuropathic agents: gabapentin, pregabalin, duloxetine for burning or shooting pain
• Opioids: used when appropriate for moderate to severe pain, with careful monitoring
• Adjuvant drugs: corticosteroids (to reduce inflammation/nerve compression), bisphosphonates (for bone metastases), antidepressants (for mood and pain modulation)

2. Interventional Procedures

• Peripheral nerve blocks: target specific nerves supplying painful areas (e.g., chest wall, pelvis, shoulder)
• Sympathetic plexus blocks & neurolysis:
  
  • Celiac plexus block/neurolysis for upper abdominal cancers (pancreatic, gastric, liver)
  • Superior hypogastric plexus block for pelvic cancers
  • Neurolytic procedures can provide long-lasting relief in advanced cases
• Epidural steroid injections: reduce inflammation and pain when tumors irritate or compress spinal nerves
• Radiofrequency ablation (RFA): used for painful vertebral body tumors; often combined with vertebroplasty or kyphoplasty to stabilize the spine and relieve pain

3. Targeted Drug Delivery (Intrathecal Therapy)

For patients with severe, refractory pain, we offer implantable intrathecal pain pumps. These deliver medication directly into the spinal fluid at much lower doses than oral or IV medications, offering powerful relief with fewer systemic side effects. Therapy can be adjusted over time to meet each patient’s changing needs.

4. Supportive & Integrative Care

• Physical therapy: maintains mobility and reduces deconditioning
• Psychological support: addresses the emotional impact of cancer pain
• Collaboration with oncology & palliative care: ensures whole-person support at every stage of care

Living with Cancer Pain

Cancer pain can feel overwhelming, but patients should know that effective relief is possible. Our mission at Pain & Vascular Institute is to combine advanced interventional treatments, careful medication use, and supportive care to relieve suffering, restore function, and improve quality of life at every stage of cancer treatment.