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Is Chemotherapy Painful? Complete Guide for Patients and Families
By Raveena M Prakash
When you are advised to undergo chemotherapy as part of the cancer treatment, then one of the first and most common questions that would come to your mind would be, ‘Will it hurt?’ or ‘Is chemotherapy painful?’ But here’s the truth: chemotherapy is not a usual treatment approach used for every type of cancer. The pain is not always guaranteed, and when it does occur, it can always be managed with effective pain management methods.
In this blog, we’ll discover more about whether chemo is painful and you should be afraid of this and how to manage the pain.
What is chemotherapy?
Chemotherapy is a significant treatment that uses powerful drugs to destroy rapidly growing cancer cells along with healthy cells in the body.
These drugs are typically delivered through:
- Intravenously (IV): through the vein
- Orally: in pill or liquid form
- Injection
- Topical application
Is chemotherapy painful?
The chemo is not typically a painful procedure, although many patients might experience discomfort during or after the procedure. The discomfort often feels at the IV or injection site. The side effects can appear painful and it can vary greatly, and may cause pain.
During the infusion or Injection
The level of pain acquired during chemotherapy infusion and injection would usually be mild or no severe pain. In most cases, patients feel a small level of pain during the needle insertion. Some might experience some irritation and discomfort at the injection site, especially if the drug causes irritation.
This is often known as extravasation, but this is uncommon and monitored closely by the healthcare team.
While taking chemo pills
Consuming chemo pills won’t cause any pain, but it might cause possible digestive issues like cramps and nausea.
Should you be afraid of chemo pain?
Cancer patients should not be worried about getting the chemo and thinking it would be painful. It does not always cause pain. In most cases, these pains are treatable and managed with some medications. Always stay informed about your treatments and their expected side effects, and stay in touch with your oncologist and medical team. Don’t ignore the pain, and never suffer in silence.
What can happen with chemotherapy?
Chemotherapy is a lifesaving treatment used for cancer disease. Chemotherapy drugs are powerful enough to destroy rapidly growing cells, including healthy cells in the mouth, scalp, stomach, and gut, along with cancer cells.
The severity of the side effects may include:
- Your overall health
- The stage of your cancer
- The type and amount of chemotherapy you receive
Many side effects can be cleared after the completion of treatments, but some may continue after months and years, some may never go away.
How to manage the pain of chemotherapy
The pain associated with chemotherapy treatments is managed with the help of your healthcare team.
Here are common pain relief methods are used, including:
There are some over the counter medications:
- Medicines like Acetaminophen
- Pain relieving medications
- Nerve pain medicines like gabapentin used to reduce pain
- Mouth washes for mouth sores
- Physical therapy for joint and muscle pain
- Body massage and relaxation techniques for chronic discomfort
If you are undergoing chemotherapy treatments, always consult your doctor before taking any pain-relieving medicines. If you are experiencing extreme pain, then do not ignore the pain. Early management of pain can prevent pain from becoming worse and overwhelming.
Side effects of chemotherapy
The side effects of chemotherapy happen when the normal cells are damaged. The type of side effects mostly depends on the type of chemotherapy drugs that you are taking and their dosages.
Here are the most common side effects of chemotherapy, these may include:
- Fatigue
- Hair loss
- Skin changes
- Nausea and vomiting
- Changes in bowel habits
- Difficulty in eating and swallowing
- Bladder and kidney issues
- Weak immune systems
- Bruising and bleeding
- Peripheral neuropathy
- Trouble thinking
- Sex and fertility issues
How families can help the patients
Here’s how you can help your loved ones who are undergoing cancer treatment and managing their chemotherapy side effects, including:
- Observe physical changes in your loved ones: In some cases, patients won’t share clear information about the pain they are suffering throughout the chemotherapy, either by minimizing its severity or by withholding accurate details about their suffering.
- Offer emotional support: Patients who are undergoing treatments might not ask for help directly. But they might expect you to show support. Usually anxiety and fear can make the feeling worse; be calm and reassuring under pressure.
- Encourage communication: Always remind your loved ones to speak up about their pain; it's not about complaining. It's essential to create a comfortable place to have open communication and help them with strong emotional support.
Consult Today
Chemotherapy can often feel like stepping into the unknown, especially if you are the first person in your family diagnosed with cancer recently. But when it comes to the pain, knowledge and practicing necessary healing remedies can be your savior.
At Oncare, we offer premium quality cancer treatments, including advanced cancer surgeries, at affordable price ranges with an experienced cancer specialist consultation.
If you or any loved ones of yours are diagnosed with cancer, then visit Oncare Cancer Center. Book an appointment with our cancer specialist. Get an estimated cost of your cancer treatment today!
Frequently Asked Questions
Chemotherapy is used to treat a wide range of cancers, including:
- Primary cancer: Cancer that hasn’t spread to other areas of the body.
- Metastatic cancer: Cancer that’s spread to other areas of the body.
Chemotherapy often uses systemic chemotherapy, the chemotherapy drugs travels throughout your body. You might receive systemic chemo:
- Intravenously
- As an injection
- Oral
- Topical application
The most common way to give chemotherapy is intravenously, through an IV. Chemotherapy can go directly into a vein through:
- Needle: Usually gives in the arms.
- Catheter : A thin, flexible tube attached to a vein
- Port : A small disc attached to the skin. A catheter is often attached to the port to deliver chemotherapy.
- Pump: A device that attaches to a catheter or port that controls the amount of the chemotherapy drug you receive.
Here are some of the side effects of chemotherapy, including:
- Anemia
- Bleeding
- Constipation
- Diarrhea
- Fatigue
- Hair loss
- Infection
- Loss of appetite
- Nausea and vomiting
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