Prostate Cancer Pain (Cont.)

 
Alternative Treatments
Alternative treatments that may be used for prostate cancer pain include:
 
  • Massage
  • Acupuncture
  • Acupressure
  • Other approaches.
 
Patients may also learn to relieve pain through relaxation techniques, such as listening to slow music or breathing slowly and comfortably.
 
(Click Prostate Cancer Alternative Treatments for more information.)
 
Radiation and/or Surgery
Radiation, with either external beam radiation therapy or periodic injections of bone-seeking radioactive chemicals (radionuclides), may ease pain caused by bone metastases, and it may also delay the progress of disease. Radiation therapy can be given with or without surgery and/or chemotherapy.
 
Nerve Block
The doctor may inject alcohol into the area around certain nerves around the prostate gland to block the prostate cancer pain. This procedure is called a nerve block.
 

A Summary of Prostate Cancer Pain

It is possible that a person with prostate cancer may experience pain. However, in most cases, the pain can be controlled with several different options, including medicines, alternative treatments, radiation, surgery, or a nerve block.
 
Communication is a key aspect to dealing with prostate cancer pain. Your doctor or nurse will not know how much pain you have unless you tell him or her. You also need to tell your healthcare providers which medicines or treatments are working and which ones are not. With your help, your doctor and nurse will try to find out why you have pain and the best way to treat it.

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Written by/reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD