Does Cancer Hurt?
At first no, not usually.
Most people are surprised (as well as horrified) to discover that they
have cancer because they often 'feel fine'.
Cancer pain is associated more
with:
1. Cancer Treatments (they can
hurt!)
As with any major surgery, surgery to
remove cancer tumors often causes some pain. The surgical incision area
needs to heal, and your body is likely to feel sore and bruised.
Nerve pain is another issue. Nerves are cut during the surgery and
they take time to heal, some people have pain around their surgical
scar for up to 2 years after surgery. The pain eventually fades. Nerve pain can also result
from chemotherapy or
radiotherapy.
2. The Stage Of Cancer
Advanced stages of cancer, where a tumor
is pressing on another organ or nerves, causes pain.
3. Location Of Cancer In The Body
Cancer of the head or neck for example
tends to be particularly painful because there are lots of nerves in
this area.
Types Of Cancer Pain
1. Nerve Pain
Medically called neuropathic pain, nerve
pain is caused by damage to nerves or pressure on the nerves by a
tumor. It feels can feel like a shooting, tingling or burning pain.
2. Bone Pain
If cancer spreads to the bones, it causes
damage to the bone tissue which leads to pain. Pain feels like a dull
ache or throbbing 'in your bones'.
3. Other Aches
If an organ is affected by cancer it can
cause muscle aches in the general area. For example damage to the kidney can
lead to a pain in the back - pain may be an ache, sharp pain or
throbbing.
4. Phantom Pain
This is pain which occurs in a part of the
body removed by surgery. For example, women who have a breast
removed (mastectomy) often report pain in the area. This pain can be
unbearable sometimes. Doctors still don't understand what causes
phantom pain, but about 1/3 of women who have a breast remove
experience it. Mostly it goes away after a few months.
Does
Cancer Hurt When You Push It?
"I have a small lump on my
breast which is sore to push, is it cancer?'
A cancer lump tends to be hard,
not
moveable when you push it, and it is not sore. If the lump moves
under your finger and is tender, it is more likely to be a common
breast cyst. Cysts tend to increase and reduce in size according to
your menstrual cycle. A cancer lump persists and grows larger. If in
any doubt, always have a lump checked out by your doctor.
Related Questions:
Cancer Treatment Options
What is the best
treatment for cancer?
It's Not Always Cancer!
What
can cause a breast lump?
|
|
.gif){kind=small}