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Pain management in metastatic breast cancer

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Pain can almost always be relieved with treatment, no matter how severe it is. Well-coordinated pain management with regular adjustments is crucial for maintaining quality of life. It is one of the main medical treatments used in metastatic breast cancer.

Metastatic breast cancer treatment targets not only the cancer cells, but also the related symptoms such as pain and any side effects of more aggressive treatments.

The symptoms caused by breast cancer will depend on various factors, including the size of the tumor and the rate at which it's growing. A growing tumor can cause pain if the cells press against nearby nerves or damage healthy tissue. Large tumors may prevent organs from working properly if they grow deeper into the chest wall or the skin. The location of metastatic tumors also influences the kind of symptoms they cause: If your lungs are affected, you may have trouble breathing. Metastases in bones can be painful and make the bones weaker and more likely to break.

Pain often makes you feel tired and anxious, and can get you down. But medication can almost always help.

How can you describe pain?

Which medications can be used?

What are the possible side effects of opioids?

Can you become dependent on opioids?

What can you do yourself?

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Updated on January 23, 2024

Next planned update: 2027

Publisher:

Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG, Germany)

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