Cervical Cancer Pain Management & Control

Pain Management for Cervical Cancer 

Many cervical cancer patients arrive at Cancer Treatment Centers of America (CTCA) experiencing side effects, such as pain, from previous treatments. Our cancer pain management practitioners take as much time as needed to understand your condition. We assess your pain using a variety of tools, including pain management scales and symptom tracking methods. We also really listen, so we’re able to locate your pain and take the appropriate steps to manage it.

For cervical cancer patients, we treat pain that results from a variety of causes, including side effects from surgery or chemotherapy, as well as pre-existing health issues, such as headaches or stomach aches. Your pain management practitioner will develop a customized cancer pain control plan based on the other medications you are taking, and the medications that have worked in the past, if any.

We also help you address any side effects that cervical cancer treatment may have on your sexual function, such as pain, vaginal dryness or low libido. You’ll meet with our cervical cancer pain management team individually or with your partner to discuss solutions. Our Survivorship Support program also helps you address any intimacy concerns once you have completed treatment.

What Causes Cervical Cancer Pain?

If you have pain, the severity and prevalence of your pain may depend on many factors, including the type and stage of cervical cancer, your treatment plan and your tolerance for pain.

You may experience pain from the cancer itself, or as a side effect of cancer treatment. Cervical cancer pain may result from:

• A tumor putting pressure on tissues, bones, nerves or organs.
• Poor blood circulation because the cancer has blocked blood vessels.
• Blockage of an organ or tube in the body, such as the kidneys or bladder.
• Side effects of surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy or other cancer treatments.
• Metastasis – cancer cells that have spread to other sites in the body.
• Pain that is completely independent from cancer or cancer treatment (e.g., headaches, backaches, muscle strains, arthritis or other common pains).

A Team Approach to Treating Cervical Cancer Pain

We use a variety of cancer pain management methods, including pills, injections and skin patches. We also use implanted pain pumps that automatically deliver a pre-determined dose of pain medicine to the spine.

We want you to be able to continue daily activities as normally as possible. Your pain management practitioner will adjust your medications to seek a balance between pain relief and quality of life.

The CTCA pain management team is fully integrated with the other disciplines offered at the hospital. In addition to medication, your cervical cancer pain management regimen may include one or more of our supportive therapies:

• Naturopathic medicine uses natural therapies to help you combat pain, and reduces the hormonal side effects that may accompany cervical cancer treatment.
• Oncology rehabilitation plays a key role in pain management by using a variety of physical therapy and other techniques to improve mobility and trigger the release of endorphins, which are the immune system’s natural defense against pain.
• The mind-body medicine team is available to teach you relaxation tools to help you achieve cancer pain control, and to reduce the anxiety and fatigue related to cancer or cancer treatment.

For patients staying at the hospital, “Comfort Rounds” are conducted twice weekly. During these visits, pain management practitioners thoroughly evaluate your current pain level and how your current treatment approach is working, and make any necessary modifications to your treatment plan.

Next Topic: Naturopathic Medicine for Cervical Cancer