Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about pain answered by experts in the field.

Pain

Pain Management for Pets with Cancer Question My dog was just diagnosed with primary bone cancer (yesterday in fact). She is already 3 legged so amputation is not an option and the vet said that the best we could is to just keep her comfortable until we feel it is time to put her out of her pain. Could you address pain management options and any suggestions as to how/ when to make
Pain Management during Treatment Question I am getting chemo & radiation. Should I tough it out with the pain during treatment? I'm afraid to start taking pain killers. Answer Alexander Lin, MD, Radiation Oncologist at Penn Medicine, responds: You should not "tough it out." There are many forms of therapy we can employ during therapy to minimize pain. By minimizing pain,
Pain relief for bone metastasis from prostate cancer Dear OncoLink "Ask The Experts," My father is 65 years old and is suffering severe shoulder pain from metastatic prostate cancer. Is there something we can do for his pain? Erin McMenamin, MSN, CRNP, AOCN, Pain Medicine Nurse Practitioner and Program Manager at the Abramson Cancer Center of the University of Pennsylvania, responds:He should
Neuropathic Pain After Chemotherapy Dear OncoLink "Ask The Experts," I am a male 36 years old I have ended my CHOP chemotherapy for Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma. About two weeks after my chemotherapy ended and continuing to date, I have been suffering severe leg pain in both legs. The pain is from my upper thighs to my feet. It is a consistent deep bone pain with occasional sharp stabbing
Dealing with Neuropathic Pain Dear OncoLink "Ask The Experts," My husband has peripheral neuropathy from cisplatin. What medications are recommended to treat this pain? It keeps him up at night. Are there specialists for this type of pain? Erin McMenamin, MSN, CRNP, AOCN, Pain Medicine Nurse Practitioner and Program Manager at the Abramson Cancer Center of the University of
TENS Use for Pain Control Dear OncoLink "Ask The Experts," My wife has a low-grade lymphoma, and the current treatment is ?wait and watch?. She has no pain from it. Right know she is having some unrelated back pain, and a pain management doctor are thinking of using a Tens Unit or EMS to help control that pain. We have previously been told not to use a Tens Unit or EMS if
Evaluating Pain in a Non-Verbal Patient Dear OncoLink "Ask The Experts," Is there a scale that can be used to evaluate pain in a patient who is nonverbal or unresponsive and cannot use the traditional number or face scales?Erin McMenamin, MSN, CRNP, AOCN, Pain Medicine Nurse Practitioner and Program Manager at the Abramson Cancer Center of the University of Pennsylvania, responds: If a
Joint pain and Taxol reaction Dear OncoLink "Ask The Experts," I have recently finished treatment for male breast cancer, including a mastectomy with removal of some lymph nodes and 6 months of chemo with A/C and Taxol. Now, 2 months after very difficult treatment I am experiencing easy bruising all over my body, joint pain and swelling, and loss of strength in the hand of the
Aromatase Inhibitor Joint Pain Dear OncoLink "Ask The Experts," I have been on Femara for 6 months, and it causes pain in my joints and the main nerve in my left leg. I know the importance of aromatase drugs, but would I get as much benefit and possibly eliminate the pain if I switched to Aromasin? Nancy Zieber, RN, MSN, CRNP, Oncology/Hematology Nurse Practitioner, responds:
Vaginal discharge and pain after a pelvic exenteration Dear OncoLink "Ask The Experts," I had recurrent cervical cancer and a pelvic exenteration 1 1/2yrs ago. I have continued to have a foul smelling vaginal drainage and bleeding. I am now occasionally bleeding rectally. I did not have colostomy, only urostomy and have also had blood in my urine. CT scan and IVP show no problems. I am also having a
Doxil and Leg Pain Dear OncoLink "Ask The Experts," My mom has recurrent ovarian cancer. When the cancer recurred, she was put on Topotecan, which kept her CA125 down for several months. When it started to creep back up she was put on Gemzar for two treatments, which did not impact the CA125. She is now on Doxil, and after one treatment her CA125 went up to 400 and
Neck Stiffness & Pain after Surgery Dear OncoLink "Ask The Experts," I'm 29-years-old with squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue and neck. I have had 2 right neck dissections in the last year; with the second, I lost all my soft tissue on the right side and the sternocleidomastoid muscle. Now my right neck is hard as a rock (I guess due to scar tissue). I still cannot turn my head,
Pain after Lobectomy Question After having my lower left lobe removed, I have had continuing pain in my left side below my breast in the rib area. I have been improving over the last four months, but the pain is still consuming my attempt at a positive attitude. My doctors are not really given me any indication as to how long this healing will take. Is there any time
Controlling Pain in Cancer Question My mother had advanced lung cancer and is starting to have significant pain. She is very hesitant to take anything – she says she doesn't want to be an addict. I am pretty sure that is not a reasonable fear, but I am not expert. What are the facts? Answer Suzanne Walker CRNP, MSN, AOCN, Nurse Practitioner for Thoracic Malignancies at
Alcohol Related Pain and Hodgkin’s Disease Dear OncoLink "Ask The Experts," My initial Hodgkin's symptom was arm pain. It took 9 months to get diagnosed. The pain was increased with minimal amounts of alcohol ingestion. I am 9 months in remission after ABVD. What does the alcohol do to cause the pain?Babis (Charalambos) Andreadis, MD, MSCE, Assistant clinical professor of medicine at the
Pain Associated with the Treatment of Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma Dear OncoLink "Ask the Experts," I would like to know more about non-Hodgkinís Lymphoma (NHL) classified as diffuse and follicular small cleaved cells and the associated pain (due to the cancer, chemotherapy, and filgastrim). I am told that the pain is so severe that at times you can't walk, write or apply pressure to any thing. I
Is a Cancerous Mole Painful? Question Are skin cancer moles usually painful? Answer Christopher Miller, MD, Dermatologist & Moh's Surgeon at Penn Medicine and Rachel Woods, RN, Nurse for the Surgical Dermatology Program at Penn Medicine respond: Skin cancer moles are usually not painful, especially in their early stages. Pain can associated with a dangerous mole.
Pain Relief Options for Veterinary Bone Cancer Dear OncoLink "Ask The Experts," My Yellow Lab just turned 9 (June) years old and was diagnosed back in March with bone cancer - front leg, upper part of her shoulder. She is on Gabapentin, Tramadol, and Previcox. She is still eating, drinking and in good spirits, but is walking with a considerable limp. Is there any other pain medication or
Does Massage Help Relieve Pain? Does Massage Help Relieve Pain? Can massage help to relieve pain from cancer? Wayne Mylin, Dipl. ABT (NCCAOM), AOBTA-CP is an Asian Bodywork Therapist specializing in Shiatsu and Acupressure at Pennsylvania Hospital, responds: Many types of massage and bodywork (shiatsu, acupressure, etc.) can be very helpful for pain from cancer. Depending