Alternative Treatments
Examples of alternative treatments that may be used for
colon cancer pain include:
- Massage
- Acupuncture
- Acupressure.
Patients may also learn to relieve pain through relaxation techniques, such as listening to slow music or breathing slowly and comfortably.
Radiation
High-energy rays can help relieve pain associated with
colon cancer by shrinking the tumor. Radiation therapy can be administered with either external beam radiation therapy (external radiation) or with a radioactive substance sealed in needles, seeds, wires, or catheters that are placed directly into or near the cancer (internal radiation). Radiation therapy can be given with or without surgery and/or chemotherapy.
Surgery
Surgery may be used in a couple of different ways to reduce pain with colon cancer. It can be used to remove part or all of a tumor to reduce pain directly or to relieve other problems that are causing pain, such as an obstruction of the bowel (known as bowel obstruction).
Nerve Block
The doctor may inject alcohol into the area around certain nerves around the colon to block the colon cancer pain. This procedure is called nerve block.
Colon Cancer Pain: A Summary
It is possible that a person with colon cancer may experience pain. However, in most cases, colon cancer pain can be controlled with several different options, including medicines, alternative treatments, radiation, surgery, or a nerve block.
Communication is vital for relieving colon cancer pain. Your healthcare providers will not know how much pain you are experiencing unless you tell them. You also need to tell them which medicines or treatments are working and which ones are not. With your help, your doctor and nurse will try to determine why you have pain and the best way to treat it.
If you have any questions about colon cancer pain in your particular situation, please ask your doctor, nurse, social worker, or pharmacist for more information.
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