Pain & Symptom Control

Tumors can cause inflammation-related pain. You’re probably familiar with over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medications like ibuprofen or acetaminophen. Several prescription anti-inflammatory medications are also available.

Sometimes, muscle tightness can cause pain. Your doctor may prescribe a muscle relaxer to relieve your discomfort.

In some cases, a doctor can inject steroids directly into the area causing your pain. Your doctor may use imaging technology to guide the injection, so you get as much relief as possible. Results last anywhere from a few weeks to a few months.

Nerves are pain receptors in your body. When they sense damage, they send a signal to your brain, which triggers the sensation of pain. A nerve block involves an

injection of medicine directly into a nerve or group of nerves to stop you from feeling pain in that area.

Ablation procedures destroy inflamed nerve tissue and leave you with much less pain. Your nerve or nerves will eventually grow back over time. This procedure gives long-term pain relief that can last up to one year.

• Cryoablation – An extremely cold tool or liquid freezes the nerve or nerves causing your pain.
• Radiofrequency ablation – Radiofrequency waves (heat) destroy the inflamed nerve.

An intrathecal pump is placed in your body to deliver morphine or another pain medicine into your spinal cord. Every few months, you need to have the medication for your pump refilled.

Spinal cord stimulation uses a small device that a surgeon places next to your spinal cord. It provides electrical pulses that you control to reduce the amount of pain you feel.

Many cancer treatments make you more likely to develop infections. Antibiotics treat infections and reduce side effects.

Cancer and cancer treatments can leave you with low levels of healthy blood cells. Blood transfusions are one way of boosting your healthy blood cell counts so you feel better faster.

Injections of growth factors directly into your bone marrow help your body make more healthy cells and restore cells lost during chemotherapy. This helps you recover faster and eases side effects.

Anemia is a lack of hemoglobin in your blood. Both cancer and cancer treatments can cause anemia. Iron infusions increase your hemoglobin and decrease side effects of anemia, such as fatigue or dizziness.

Lymphedema is a type of swelling that may happen during cancer treatments, especially breast cancer care that affects your lymph nodes. Adventist HealthCare offers dedicated lymphedema therapy to decrease this swelling.

If you experience anxiety, stress, or relationship conflicts due to cancer, take advantage of mental health services, including:

• Individual therapy
• Group therapy
• Support groups