When pain is mild to moderate, the first choice for pain relief is usually a non-opioid drug. Examples of these drugs include ibuprofen (such as Advil or Motrin), naproxen (Aleve or Naprosyn) and acetaminophen (Tylenol). ...
Read MoreRadiation therapy and surgery: Radiation therapy and surgery can be used to ease the pain of bone metastases. Radiation therapy to the bone can relieve pain at the site of the tumor(s) and prevent fractures. Drugs called...
Read MoreIn some people, bisphosphonates and denosumab can cause bone, joint or muscle pain. Any of these side effects should be reported to a health care provider right away. Some people who take bisphosphonates need to increase their...
Read MoreHow are bisphosphonates and denosumab given? Bisphosphonates are given once a month or every 3 months by vein (through an IV). Denosumab is given once a month as an injection (not an IV). Source: Susan G. Komen ...
Read MoreBone-strengthening therapy is a standard part of treatment for bone metastases. The same drugs are also used to treat pain from bone metastases. The 2 types of these drugs are: Bisphosphonates (zoledronic acid (Zometa) or...
Read MoreWhen breast cancer spreads to the bones (bone metastases), it can greatly affect quality of life. This somatic pain often responds to heat, or to mild pain relievers such as ibuprofen (Advil or Motrin), naproxen (Aleve or...
Read MoreMuch of the pain related to metastatic breast cancer is due to the cancer itself. A tumor can put pressure on nerves or the spinal cord, causing injury and pain. This pain is often described as a sharp, tingling, burning or...
Read MoreHealth care providers may use the terms neuropathic, visceral and somatic to describe different types of pain. Neuropathic is a sharp, tingling, burning or shooting feeling. It is often related to pain caused by pressure on...
Read MoreWhat can be done to relieve my pain? What can we do if the pain medications don’t work? What side effects may occur with the pain medications? What can be done to prevent or manage these side effects? What side effects...
Read MoreWhere is the pain? When did the pain start? How long has the pain lasted? Has the pain changed in any way? Is there anything that makes the pain worse or better? How intense is the pain (mild, moderate, severe, etc. or, on...
Read MoreEveryone’s pain is different. So, it’s important to describe exactly what you’re feeling to your health care provider. This ensures your provider can give you the best treatment for your pain. Certain types...
Read MoreSeeing a palliative care or anesthesia pain specialist You may have a palliative care or anesthesia pain specialist on your treatment team. If not, your oncologist will likely know of a specialist in your area. Be sure to ask...
Read MoreAnesthesia pain experts are anesthesiologists with special training in pain management. They are experts in procedures (such as injections) to relieve pain. Source: Susan G. Komen 2019
Read MorePalliative care and pain specialists (physicians, nurse practitioners and nurses) treat pain from cancer or other causes. They treat people with metastatic breast cancer as well as those with early breast cancer. Palliative...
Read MorePalliative care focuses on relieving or preventing symptoms (like pain) rather than treating disease and should be given throughout treatment for breast cancer. Palliative care is especially important for those living with...
Read MoreHealth care providers and palliative care or pain specialists Every visit with your health care provider should include a discussion of pain. Your provider can change the type and dose of pain medication throughout your care...
Read MoreTell your health care provider as soon as you have pain. Pain is usually easier to treat when you first have it. Waiting until the pain is severe before getting relief can make it harder to control and may require more...
Read MorePain is not the same for everyone. Even among people at the same stage of disease. pain can vary. Some people have more intense and more frequent pain than others. You should never feel you have to endure pain. Even when...
Read MoreWhat is pain management? Pain from treatment or the cancer itself can effect your quality of life. So, controlling pain is a crucial part of your care. The goal of pain management is to have the most pain control with the...
Read MoreDiscussions on end-of-life care are very difficult. As hard as it can be to talk to your family and health care providers about end-of-life issues, these discussions help ensure your wishes are carried out. With your...
Read MoreHospice care any time is helpful, but enrolling earlier rather than later can be better for the patient and the family. The earlier the enrollment, the more time the hospice team has to get to know the patient and the family so...
Read MoreHospice care provides special support to caregivers. Home health aides can give caregivers a break. And, for times when a caregiver is called away or needs a longer break, hospice care can be moved to an in-patient...
Read MoreAlthough treatment for the cancer may stop once hospice care begins, treatments to improve quality of life and ease symptoms continue. This care includes: Control of pain, nausea and other symptoms. Treatment for non-cancer...
Read MoreThe cost of hospice care is covered by: Medicare, Medicaid, Health maintenance organizations (HMOs), such as Blue Cross/Blue Shield, most private insurance companies. Hospice programs cover the cost of the health care team as...
Read MoreAlthough a survival time period is set for enrollment, hospice care doesn’t have a time limit. A person enrolled in a hospice program may live longer than 6 months and hospice care will continue. Source: Susan G. Komen ...
Read MoreHospice care can begin when a person has a life expectancy of 6 months or less (as estimated by the person’s doctor and confirmed by the hospice program’s medical director. Some hospice programs only enroll people...
Read MoreA typical hospice care team includes a: Registered nurse who usually visits 1-2 times a week (or more depending on the need) and is available by phone 24 hours a day, 7 days a week Home health aide(s) (who can help with...
Read MoreHospice care is most often given at home, where the patient is usually the most comfortable. Sometimes, hospice care is given as in-patient care at a freestanding hospice house or at a hospital with hospice services. Some...
Read MoreThe goal of palliative care is to maximize quality of life. It focuses on symptom control, rather than control of the cancer and treats physical, emotional, social and spiritual needs. The extra layer of care can be given...
Read MoreIt’s natural to worry about end-of-life issues. Hospice Care: Hospice care is a philosophy of care that aims to give a sense of control to people at the end stage of a terminal illness, such as metastatic breast cancer. ...
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Can zero-calorie drinks make you gain weight? Maybe you should stop at one can of pop. In a new study, researchers tracked 474 older adults for nearly a decade and found that the waistlines of diet-soda drinkers expanded 178...
French researchers tracked nearly 69,000 adults for five years. Those who reported eating the most organic foods were 76 percent less likely to be diagnosed with lymphoma and 34 percent less likely to be diagnosed with...
When pain is mild to moderate, the first choice for pain relief is usually a non-opioid drug. Examples of these drugs include ibuprofen (such as Advil or Motrin), naproxen (Aleve or Naprosyn) and acetaminophen (Tylenol). ...
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