Prostate Cancer Screening and Early Detection
Cancer Pain, A Guide For You And Your Family - WebMD
Having cancer does not always mean having pain. For those with pain, there are many different kinds of medicines, different ways to receive the medicine, and non-drug methods that can relieve the pain you may have. You should not accept pain as a normal part of having cancer. When you are free of pain, you can sleep and eat better, enjoy the company of family and friends, and continue with your work and hobbies.
Only you know how much pain you have. Telling your doctor and nurse when you have pain is important. Not only is pain easier to treat when you first have it, but pain can be an early warning sign of the side effects of the cancer or the cancer treatment. Together - you, your nurse, and your doctor - can talk about how to treat your pain. You have a right to pain relief, and you should insist on it.
Here are some facts about cancer pain that may help answer some of your questions.
1. Cancer pain can almost always be managed.
There are many different medicines and methods available to control cancer pain. You should expect your doctor to seek all the information and resources necessary to make you as comfortable as possible. However, no one doctor can know everything about all medical problems. If you are in pain and your doctor suggests no other options, ask to see a pain specialist or have your doctor consult with a pain specialist. Pain specialists may be oncologists, anesthesiologists, neurologists, neurosurgeons, other doctors, a palliative care team, nurses, or pharmacists. A pain control team may also include psychologists, psychiatrists and social workers.
If you have trouble locating a pain program or specialist, contact a cancer center, a hospice, or the oncology department at your local hospital or medical center. The National Cancer Institute's (NCI) Cancer Information Service (CIS) and other organizations can give you a list of pain management facilities. The American Cancer Society (ACS) and other organizations may also be able to provide names of pain specialists, pain clinics, or programs in your area.
2. Controlling your cancer pain is part of the overall treatment for cancer.
Your doctor wants and needs to hear about what works and what doesn't work for your pain. Knowing about the pain will help your doctor better understand how the cancer and cancer treatment are affecting your body. Discussions about pain will not distract your doctor from treating the cancer.
3. Preventing pain from starting or getting worse is the best way to control it.
Pain is best relieved when treated early. You may hear some people refer to this as "staying on top" of the pain. Do not try to hold off as long as possible between doses of pain medicine. Pain may get worse if you wait, and it may take longer or require larger doses of your medicine to give you relief.
4. Telling the doctor or nurse about pain is not a sign of weakness.
You have a right to ask for pain relief. Not everyone feels pain in the same way. There is no need to be "stoic" or "brave" if you have more pain than others with the same kind of cancer. In fact, as soon as you have any pain, you should speak up. Remember, it is easier to control pain when it just starts rather than wait until it becomes severe.
5. People who take cancer pain medicines, as prescribed by the doctor, rarely become addicted to them.
Addiction is a common fear of people taking pain medicine. Such fear may prevent people from taking the medicine. The fear of addiction may cause family members to encourage you to "hold off" as long as possible between doses.
Addiction is defined by many medical societies as uncontrollable drug craving, seeking, and use. When opioids (also known as narcotics) - the strongest pain relievers available - are taken for pain, they rarely cause addiction as defined here. When you are ready to stop taking opioids, the doctor will gradually lower the amount of medicine you are taking. By the time you stop using it completely, the body will have had time to adjust. Talk to your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist about how to use pain medicines safely and about any concerns you have about addiction.
6. Most people do not get "high" or lose control when they take cancer pain medicines as prescribed by a doctor.
Some pain medicines can cause you to feel sleepy when you first take them. This feeling usually goes away within a few days. Sometimes you become drowsy because, with the relief of the pain, you are able to catch up on the sleep you missed when you were in pain. On occasion, people get dizzy or feel confused when they take pain medicines. Tell your doctor or nurse if this happens to you. Changing your dose or type of medicine can usually solve the problem.
7. Side effects from medicines can be managed or often prevented.
Most pain medicines may cause constipation, nausea and vomiting, or drowsiness. Your doctor or nurse can help you manage these side effects. These problems may go away after a few days of taking the medicine. Many side effects can be managed by changing the medicine or the dose or times when the medicine is taken. In some cases, additional medication is needed to minimize the side effects.
8. Your body does not become immune to pain medicine.
Stronger medicines should not be saved for "later." Pain should be treated early. It is important to take whatever medicine is needed. You do not need to save the stronger medicines for later. If your body gets used to the medicine you are taking, your medicine may not relieve the pain as well as it once did. This is called tolerance. Tolerance may be a problem with cancer pain treatment because of the length of time you are on the medicine. But the amount of medicine can be changed or other medicines can be added.
When pain is not treated properly, you may be:
When cancer pain is managed properly, you can:
This Unexpected Pain Is A Common Sign Of Prostate Cancer ... - AOL
Man discussing prostate cancer signs with his doctor
Prostate cancer is one of the most common types of cancer in men, ranking only behind lung cancer in deaths. About 1 in 8 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer during their lives, according to the American Cancer Society (ACS). Those numbers are grim, but here's some brighter news.
"It is a completely curable disease if detected early, such as while the cancer is still localized to the prostate and has not spread," says Dr. Ramkishen Narayanan, MD, a board-certified urologist and urologic oncologist and Director of the Center for Urologic Health at The Roy and Patricia Disney Family Cancer Center at Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center.
In fact, the ACS puts the five-year survival rate for local and regionalized prostate cancer at about 99%. Understanding your risk and signs and symptoms of prostate cancer can be life-saving. Yet, the cancer still has a stigma.
"Because the prostate is in a sensitive area involving urination and sexual function, men tend to avoid talking about their diagnosis," Dr. Narayanan says. "Fortunately, we are gradually seeing a shift in men more openly communicating with their friends and the public about prostate cancer."
Doctors also want to continue to communicate and spread awareness about the signs of prostate cancer. One symptom involves pain in an unexpected place.
Related: This Is the Early Cancer Symptom That's Missed the Most Often, According to Experts
The #1 Unexpected Prostate Cancer Sign, According to UrologistsBelieve it or not, bone pain is a potential prostate cancer symptom. Unfortunately, people with prostate cancer who are experiencing this pain likely have the metastatic kind, meaning it has spread. "The bones of the pelvis and the spine are common first areas of metastasis for prostate cancer," says Dr. Daniel Phillips, MD, a urologist with Memorial Hermann. "Pain in these regions may be evidence of a possible prostate cancer in these locations."
Dr. Narayanan says that bone pain can also be a sign of prostate cancer recurrence in patients who have already had the disease. The link between prostate cancer and bone pain may be a surprising one. However, urologists have explanations.
"When prostate cancer cells try to metastasize, [which means cancer] spread outside of the organ, they first try to get to the lymph nodes near the prostate, called the pelvic lymph nodes, and second most commonly, the bone," Dr. Narayanan says.
Dr. Narayanan explains the cells may also try to get to the bone, specifically the bony pelvis and spine/vertebrae. He urges people to seek medical care ASAP if they experience new bone pain, especially if they have risk factors for prostate cancer, like elevated prostate-specific antigen (PSA) and a family history of prostate cancer.
What if you've already had prostate cancer? "New bone pain can be a sign of disease recurrence," Dr. Narayanan says.
Notably, Dr. Vishnukamal Golla, MD, the medical director for value transformation at Evolent, says some patients with prostate cancer will never experience this symptom. Other times, the bone pain is a sign of something else.
What Else To Know About Bone Pain and Prostate Cancer 1. It's new or worseningDr. Phillips explains that the pain is generally new and worsening and often appears in the back, ribs or joints. Dr. Narayanan says people who have lived with low back pain for years may brush off this prostate cancer sign.
"It is important to remember that in older men with chronic low back pain, [doctors] should ask if there has been a noticeable change in their pain," Dr. Narayanan says.
Patients can and should also flag worsening pain.
2. It can feel dull or stabbingThe way someone feels pain varies. However, one urologist can offer some common words patients with prostate cancer use to describe the bone pain that brought them to the doctor's office.
"Bone pain is typically described as a dull ache or stabbing sensation that is generally constant," Dr. Golla says. "Sometimes, the pain can be intense enough to wake someone up from sleep."
3. It may be worse at certain times"Patients can feel bone pain from prostate cancer throughout the day, but it commonly is worse for patients at night," says Dr. Jennifer Anger, MD, a urologist and co-author of A Woman's Guide to Her Pelvic Floor: What the F*@# is Going On Down There.
Dr. Phillips says other patients may notice the pain is more pronounced when they are active.
4. It can have a ripple effectUnfortunately, the bone pain linked to prostate cancer poses other risks.
"Metastatic prostate cancer in the bones can weaken the bone structure, resulting in fractures that are not associated with trauma such as a fracture from getting out of bed or walking normally," Dr. Golla says.
Related: 7 Workouts That Will Benefit Anyone With Bladder Issues, from Dead Bugs to Pilates
Other Signs of Prostate CancerBone pain isn't the only potential red flag of prostate cancer. Dr. Anger says someone might have blood in the urine if the cancer spreads outside of the prostate and into the urinary tract.
"They can also have weakness and weight loss from metastatic disease," Dr. Anger continues.
Dr. Golla adds that blood in semen and erectile dysfunction can indicate prostate cancer. However, Dr. Phillips stresses you may not experience prostate cancer symptoms, especially early in the disease.
"The most important point I emphasize with my patients is that most prostate cancers are asymptomatic," Dr. Phillips says.
How Doctors Screen for Prostate CancerSince prostate cancer is often asymptomatic, early screening is critical. "PSA screening is the most important," Dr. Narayanan says. "Early access or referral to your urologist also helps gauge your urinary health. In coordination with your primary care doctor, we as urologists can quarterback your urologic care and ensure you have access to tests such as the prostate MRI, which has been a game-changer in early prostate cancer detection."
Understanding family history can also help you advocate for early testing.
The good news? "Prostate cancer is completely curable when detected early, while the cancer is still localized to the prostate and has not spread to the lymph nodes or the bone," Dr. Narayanan says.
Related: 'I'm an Oncologist Who Has Spent My Career Treating Cancer—This Is the Afternoon Snack I Eat Multiple Times a Week'
Treatment for Metastatic Prostate CancerIf you have bone pain and prostate cancer, it's likely to have spread. "Bone pain from cancer and the diagnosis of a metastatic prostate cancer can be scary for patients," Dr. Phillips says. "However, with current advances in the management of prostate cancer, patients will, in most cases, have long and fulfilling lives after their diagnosis. Even in advanced disease, the time scale is most often in years rather than months."
But how? "When prostate cancer has spread, the mainstay of treatment is medications that block the influence of testosterone," Dr. Phillips says. "Prostate cancer is highly dependent on testosterone and the blockade of this hormone can be an effective treatment. Many other treatments also exist, including more advanced hormonal treatments, targeted agents, as well as more traditional chemotherapy."
Lowering Prostate Cancer RiskYou can't completely eliminate your chances of developing prostate cancer. However, you can control some risk factors. "While there are no miracle vitamins in terms of supplements, there are certain dietary changes that generally show positive benefits for patients living with cancer, including prostate cancer," Dr. Golla says.
For instance, diets linked with better heart health can also reduce prostate cancer odds or slow its progression if you already have it—a win-win.
"Heart-healthy diet recommendations include having more of a plant-based diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains and healthy fats," Dr. Golla says. "This also includes eating less meat and refined carbohydrates and opting for healthier vegetable fats."
Research published in Cancer 2024 also indicated that plant-based diets can lower the likelihood of erectile dysfunction and urinary incontinence in prostate cancer patients.
Dr. Narayanan said regular exercise and not smoking (or quitting if you do) can also slash your risk.
Next up: Yes, 'Ozempic Butt' Is a Thing—Here's Everything You Need to Know About It
SourcesPain Management For Prostate Cancer - WebMD
There are many causes of pain when a patient has metastatic prostate cancer. First there can just be pain just from the tumor itself, so where the prostate is, it can block off the bladder, so you can have bladder spasms, for men they can have painful urination or painful ejaculation, and sometimes that's how it's diagnosed. Also, but most commonly people think of when the cancer goes to the bone, that's where people have most of their pain.Kimberly Curseen
When you suspect that you're having pain from metastatic prostate cancer, or pain from any cancer, this is not going to be a time where you can manage that at home. And you're going to need help from a healthcare professional. The mainstay of treatment for metastatic cancer pain is, you usually start with medications like opioids,Kimberly Curseen
that would be your oxycodones or your morphines, or NSAIDs, those would be medications like ibuprofen or naproxen. You want to be under a doctor's supervision, because those medications can have side effects. But if used properly, they can work immediately and help your pain.Kimberly Curseen
For some patients the pain can be more severe, and they need more advanced therapy. So this is where your doctor may offer you radiation. They may offer you radiation either where the x ray beams are from the outside, or they could offer you radiation that they actually inject, which can specifically target the cancer.Kimberly Curseen
Some patients when they're suffering from cancer pain, they look for alternative treatments. And the alternative treatments that are most appropriate would be maybe therapeutic massage, relaxation techniques, to help them control the pain, cognitive behavioral therapy, which can help them cope with pain. But this type of pain is going to be the kind of pain that you're going to need to seek medical attention from either your oncologist, your primary care specialist, or your palliative care specialist.Kimberly Curseen
I always suggest to patients that they keep a log and a pain diary, to let us know how much medications they're requiring. Let us know when the pain is more severe, and that will allow the doctor to be able to manage it more appropriately. Palliative care can also be very very helpful, as a second specialty to help manage pain, and also be mindful that pain doesn't just happen to the body, but it happens to the mind and the spirit. So we have to pay special attention to the mood and also the way you cope with pain.","publisher":"WebMD Video"} ]]>
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Kimberly Curseen
There are many causes of pain when a patient has metastatic prostate cancer. First there can just be pain just from the tumor itself, so where the prostate is, it can block off the bladder, so you can have bladder spasms, for men they can have painful urination or painful ejaculation, and sometimes that's how it's diagnosed. Also, but most commonly people think of when the cancer goes to the bone, that's where people have most of their pain.Kimberly Curseen
When you suspect that you're having pain from metastatic prostate cancer, or pain from any cancer, this is not going to be a time where you can manage that at home. And you're going to need help from a healthcare professional. The mainstay of treatment for metastatic cancer pain is, you usually start with medications like opioids,Kimberly Curseen
that would be your oxycodones or your morphines, or NSAIDs, those would be medications like ibuprofen or naproxen. You want to be under a doctor's supervision, because those medications can have side effects. But if used properly, they can work immediately and help your pain.Kimberly Curseen
For some patients the pain can be more severe, and they need more advanced therapy. So this is where your doctor may offer you radiation. They may offer you radiation either where the x ray beams are from the outside, or they could offer you radiation that they actually inject, which can specifically target the cancer.Kimberly Curseen
Some patients when they're suffering from cancer pain, they look for alternative treatments. And the alternative treatments that are most appropriate would be maybe therapeutic massage, relaxation techniques, to help them control the pain, cognitive behavioral therapy, which can help them cope with pain. But this type of pain is going to be the kind of pain that you're going to need to seek medical attention from either your oncologist, your primary care specialist, or your palliative care specialist.Kimberly Curseen
I always suggest to patients that they keep a log and a pain diary, to let us know how much medications they're requiring. Let us know when the pain is more severe, and that will allow the doctor to be able to manage it more appropriately. Palliative care can also be very very helpful, as a second specialty to help manage pain, and also be mindful that pain doesn't just happen to the body, but it happens to the mind and the spirit. So we have to pay special attention to the mood and also the way you cope with pain.
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