Colon Cancer Pain - Medications and Treatment

It is not uncommon that people who have been diagnosed with colon cancer will experience some pain. There are several causes and different treatments for colon cancer pain.

The pain may be associated with the tumor itself, or it could be a side effect of the treatment. The patient may also experience pain that is not associated with the colon cancer at all, like headaches, muscle pains etc.

If the tumor is in contact with nerves, bone or organs in the body, the pressure exerted could cause pain. The degree of pain that an individual patient feels is dependant on the stage of their cancer, as well as their ability to tolerate pain, which is referred to as a person's pain threshold.

The treatment that is offered will vary from patient to patient, and will be determined by the severity and frequency of the pain. Treatments commonly used for colon cancer pain include:

• Medication
• Radiation therapy
• surgery
• Alternative treatments
• Nerve block

These treatments are described briefly below.

Medication
For most patients, medication is effective in relieving pain, particularly when used in conjunction with some alternative therapies.

Medications fall into two broad categories; those that need a doctor's prescription and those that don't. Usually you will be recommended to try some non-prescription pain medications first; these are readily available at pharmacies and are called over-the-counter medicines.

Use the medicines that are recommended, and take them according to the directions on the pack. Be sure to tell your doctor if they are not effective at relieving your pain, because there will likely be other medications you can try. Check with your doctor before using something not recommended by them.

Prescription medications are usually stronger and may be the next step in pain relief. Always take prescription medication as directed and let your doctor know how effective they are. These medications are safe, when taken as directed, and are not habit-forming.

Some colon cancer patients are also prescribed steroids or other hormone therapies to help relieve painful symptoms.

Alternative Treatments
Colon cancer patients may have alternative therapies recommended to help with pain control. These may be used in conjunction with medication or on their own. Many patients find relief with these treatments and are better able to cope with both pain and discomfort associated with their cancer.

Massage works to relieve tightness and tension in muscles and also has the effect of relaxation. Also effective for some patients is acupuncture and acupressure, which uses pressure points in the body to relieve pain and tension.

Relaxation techniques help people living with pain by helping them to relax, which often lessens the severity of the pain, and makes the patient feel better. Breathing techniques, meditation and music relaxation are all effective.

Radiation
The high-energy rays of radiation therapy help to relieve the pain of colon cancer patients by shrinking the size of the tumor. Radiation therapy might be used in conjunction with chemotherapy or surgery.

Surgery
Surgery can be used to remove a part of or the entire tumor, with the aim of relieving pain or reducing other problems which might be the cause of the pain. An example would be if there was an obstruction of the bowel.

Nerve Block
To block pain, an injection is given into the area around the nerves near the site of the tumor to relieve pain.

Whatever pain relief treatment is given, it is most important that you communicate the effects of the treatment back to your doctors. They can only help you with your colon cancer pain, if they have all the information you can give them.