Cancer pain is a common complication of cancer diseases. Because of the chronic and progressive nature of the disease, cancer pain is a common cause of chronic pain. Cancer pain results from tissue damage – either due to the disease itself, or due to treatment (chemotherapy, radiotherapy)
Most cancer pain is caused by the tumour pressing on bones, nerves or other organs in the body. Sometimes pain is due to your cancer treatment. For example, some chemotherapy drugs can cause numbness and tingling in your hands and feet. Or they might cause a burning sensation at the spot where you have the drug injection. Radiotherapy can cause skin redness and irritation.
Acute pain is due to damage caused by an injury and tends to only last a short time. For example, having an operation can cause acute pain. The pain goes when the wound heals. In the meantime, painkillers will usually keep it under control. hronic pain is due to changes to the nerves. Nerve changes may be due to cancer pressing on nerves or due to chemicals produced by a tumour. It can also be caused by nerve changes due to cancer treatment. Chronic pain continues long after the injury or treatment is over and can range from mild to severe. It can be there all the time. Sometimes pain can come on quickly, for example when you have a dressing changed or move around. This type of pain is called incident pain.
Chronic pain is also called persistent pain. It can be difficult to treat, but often painkillers or other pain control methods can successfully control it.Pain that is not well controlled can develop into chronic pain. So it is important to take the painkillers that the doctor prescribes for you. Trying to put up with the pain can make it harder to control in the future. People with chronic cancer pain might have times when their medicines do not control the pain. This is called breakthrough pain.