For some people with mesothelioma, pain can result from the tumor itself or from treatment for the disease. In most cases of mesothelioma, pain can be relieved using medications, alternative treatments (such as acupressure), or both. Other options for controlling pain include radiation therapy and a nerve block.

Mesothelioma Pain: An Introduction
People with mesothelioma may experience pain as a result of their illness. Whether you have pain (and the amount of pain you have) may depend on the type of mesothelioma, the stage (extent) of the disease, and your pain threshold (tolerance for pain).

For people with mesothelioma, pain can be caused by a number of things, including:

* A tumor that is pressing against nerves or bones or other organs
* Mesothelioma treatment
* Things not related to the cancer, such as headaches or muscle pain.

Options for Reducing Mesothelioma Pain
The patient's doctor (or a specialist in pain control) can relieve or reduce mesothelioma pain in several ways, which include:

* Pain medicine
* Alternative treatments
* Radiation therapy
* Nerve block.

In most cases, medicine and alternative treatments are able to reduce mesothelioma pain.

Pain Medicine
Medicines can often relieve mesothelioma pain. Ask your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist for advice before you take any medicine for pain. Medicines are safe when they are used properly. You can buy some effective pain relievers without a prescription or doctor's order. These medicines are called nonprescription or over-the-counter pain relievers. For other pain medications, a prescription from your doctor is necessary.

Although these medicines may make people drowsy and constipated, resting and taking laxatives can help. Many people worry that they will become addicted to pain medicine; in fact, this rarely happens.

Alternative Treatments
Examples of alternative treatments that may be used to lessen mesothelioma 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.

(Click Alternative Mesothelioma Treatment for more information.)

Radiation Therapy
High-energy rays can help relieve pain associated with mesothelioma by shrinking the tumor. Radiation therapy can be administered with or without surgery and/or chemotherapy.

Nerve Block
The doctor may inject alcohol into the area around certain nerves around the lung to block the mesothelioma pain. This procedure is known as a nerve block.

Mesothelioma Pain: A Summary
It is possible that a person with mesothelioma may experience pain. However, in most cases, mesothelioma pain can be controlled with medicines, alternative treatments, and (in rare cases) radiation or a nerve block.

Communication is an important aspect of dealing with mesothelioma pain. Your doctor and nurse 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 mesothelioma pain in your particular situation, please ask your doctor, nurse, social worker, or pharmacist for more information.

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