September is Pain Awareness Month, a global initiative that shines a light on the impact of pain and the ongoing research on pain management. For people living with cancer, pain may come from the tumor itself, tests, or treatments. No matter the source, cancer-related pain can be debilitating, disrupting sleep, appetite, mood, and overall quality of life, but there are ways to find relief. By working closely with your care team and exploring supportive approaches, there are strategies that can lessen your pain and help you feel more in control. 

1) Talk to your care team

Your care team is your main source of support for managing pain. Be open and honest about what you’re experiencing and don’t downplay your symptoms. Sharing these details can help your doctors better understand whether your pain is related to treatment side effects or something else, and they may be able to adjust your dosage or prescribe medications to bring relief.

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When describing your pain, be as specific as possible. A symptom tracker or journal can be useful to record your pain levels over time, note what makes it better or worse, and identify patterns, such as certain times of day or after particular activities. This can give your doctors more information on how best to support you.

2) Ask about palliative care

Palliative care, not to be confused with hospice care, is specialized medical support for anyone living with a serious illness, no matter the stage. It focuses on a whole-body approach to enhance your quality of life and can help you manage your physical health while also supporting your emotional well-being. You don’t need to wait until symptoms feel severe to ask for palliative care. It can be introduced at any time after a diagnosis to help provide extra support for you and your caregivers. 

3) Try mind-body practices or integrative approaches

For a non-pharmaceutical way to help relieve pain, integrative hematologist and oncologist Dr. Krisstina Gowin recommends incorporating mind-body exercises into your routine. “Mindfulness is highlighted in almost all of our guidelines we have for pain,” she says. “Mindfulness is a type of mindful awareness. It’s a type of meditation or breathing technique, or mind-body practice. Essentially, it’s non-judgmental awareness,” she explains. 

If you’re experiencing chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN), Dr. Gowin suggests trying integrative therapies. She shares, “In our pain guidelines, acupuncture, as well as reflexology, are the most evidence-based ways to approach CIPN.”

4)  Incorporate movement when you can

Moving your body might be the last thing you want to do when you’re in pain, but new research shows that low-impact exercises that focus on the mind-body connection can be a powerful way to reduce pain. The findings revealed Qigong and Tai chi, techniques that focus on dynamic breathing and gentle movement, were most beneficial in helping patients manage pain. Conventional exercise and pilates were also effective interventions. 

Exercise doesn’t just help with pain management. Dana-Farber Cancer Institute’s Dr. Jennifer Ligibel shares that it can help with other cancer treatment side effects including fatigue, anxiety, and depression. “[There’s] very strong evidence that exercise helps to mitigate side effects related to cancer treatment. Anything you can do is better than nothing. Start slowly and pay attention to your body to determine what kind of activity you can incorporate based on the symptoms you’re having from treatment or from the cancer itself,” she says.

Be sure to consult your care team before starting any exercise program.

Cancer pain can feel heavy and isolating, but there are ways to find support. Join the Outcomes4Me Community for a safe, inclusive space where you can share your experiences, find comfort, and connect with others who truly understand what you’re going through.