Skip to content
Mesothelioma.net
phone iconCall1-800-692-8608 chat icon Chat 24/7 Live Chat
Menu
  • Malignant Mesothelioma
    • About Mesothelioma
      • How to Survive Mesothelioma
      • 100 Questions & Answers about Mesothelioma (Free Book)
      • Symptoms
      • Diagnosis
      • Prognosis
      • Life Expectancy
    • Types
      • Pleural
      • Peritoneal
      • Epithelioid
      • Sarcomatoid
      • Biphasic
    • Stages
      • Stage 1
      • Stage 2
      • Stage 3
      • Stage 4
    • Additional Information
      • Causes
      • Asbestos and Its Dangers
      • Facts
      • Support
      • Financial Compensation
      • FREE Mesothelioma Packet
  • Treatment
    • Treatment Options
      • Surgery
      • Chemotherapy
      • Radiation Therapy
      • Multimodal Therapy
      • Medications
      • Palliative Treatment
    • Find Top Doctors
      • Doctors
      • Treatment Centers
      • Treatment & Doctors Near You
      • New Treatments
      • Care Providers
      • Clinical Trials
      • Costs
  • Asbestos Trusts
  • Compensation
  • Veteran Assistance
    • Mesothelioma and Veterans
      • VA Claims for Mesothelioma
      • Vietnam Veterans
    • Military Branches and Asbestos
      • Navy Veterans
      • Navy Ships
      • Marine Corps Veterans
      • Army Veterans
      • Air Force Veterans
      • U.S. Coast Guard
  • Surviving Mesothelioma
  • About Us / Contact
  • Home
  • ›
  • Malignant Mesothelioma
  • ›
  • Symptoms
  • ›
  • Pain
Page Updated: September 20, 2021

Mesothelioma Pain

Anne Courtney Page Medically Reviewed and Edited by Anne Courtney, AOCNP, DNP

FREE Mesothelioma Packet

Fact Checked

This page has been fact-checked by a Doctor of nursing practice specializing in Oncology and has experience working with mesothelioma patients.

FREE Mesothelioma Packet

Sources of information are listed at the bottom of the article. We make every attempt to keep our information accurate and up-to-date. 

Please Contact Us with any questions or comments.

Pain is a common symptom in mesothelioma, including chest pains caused by the pleural form and abdominal pain with peritoneal mesothelioma. Several factors cause pain, from tumors pressing on organs to treatments. The medical care team can help patients manage pain with medications, therapies, and complementary medicine.

FREE Mesothelioma Packet

Types of Mesothelioma Pain

Pain is one of the most common symptoms of mesothelioma, both in peritoneal and pleural forms of the cancer.[1] The type of pain experienced may take one or more of several forms, depending on cancer type, stage, treatments, and other factors:[2]

  • Chest pain. Some patients experience steady pain in the chest from tumors in pleural mesothelioma.
  • Pain when breathing. Others experience more pain when breathing.
  • Abdominal and visceral pain. Pain in the abdomen is typical with peritoneal mesothelioma, along with swelling and an uncomfortable sensation of fullness.
  • Metastatic pain. When the cancer spreads, it causes pain in other parts of the body. The worst pain usually occurs in bone metastases.
  • Neuropathic pain. Damaged or pressured nerves trigger pain in some patients.

Mesothelioma pain, and pain caused by any type of cancer, is often much worse than other types of pain. Researchers are still working on the mechanisms to determine what makes cancer pain so different.

What Causes Mesothelioma Pain?

The causes of pain experienced by mesothelioma ranges from cancer itself to the treatments and procedures. Many patients have different types of pain with different causes.[3]

Pain Caused by Tumors

Much of the pain of mesothelioma is triggered by the cancer itself. As tumors grow, they press on other tissues, organs, and nerves, causing pain.

In pleural mesothelioma, tumors press on the chest wall. The pain with breathing occurs because the tumors in the pleural tissue rub against the chest wall and lungs.

Swelling and tumors in the abdomen in peritoneal mesothelioma cause abdominal pain by pressing against the visceral organs.

In both types of mesothelioma, tumors may grow into other tissues, destroy tissue, press on bones, and press on or damage nerves, causing pain. Metastases from the primary tumors cause pain in the same way but in other parts of the body.

Pain Caused by Treatments

Unfortunately, many of the treatments designed to give mesothelioma patients a longer life expectancy also cause pain:

  • Surgery. Any kind of surgery causes pain during recovery, which may last days or weeks. Surgery can also trigger phantom pain, resulting from tissue that has been removed from the body. Although there is no explanation for why it occurs, this is a real and recognized pain.
  • Chemotherapy. Sometimes there are side effects that can be uncomfortable. Pain can come from mouth sores, sore throat, digestive issues, and other side effects. Chemotherapy can also cause neuropathy, a numbness, tingling, burning, or painful sensations in the feet, legs, hands, and arms.
  • Radiation therapy. Radiation also damages healthy cells while killing cancer cells. It can cause pain from damaged skin at the site of radiation. It can also trigger pain due to damage to internal tissue and organs.

Managing Mesothelioma Pain

Patients should talk to their medical teams about pain. While pain is to be expected with cancer and its treatments, it should not be unbearable. Several management techniques can reduce pain and improve quality of life.

Palliative Procedures

Palliative care is any treatment aimed at relieving symptoms and side effects and improving quality of life. The focus of palliative care is not on cancer itself but on how the patient feels.[4]

Mesothelioma patients can benefit from surgical procedures to relieve pain, including thoracentesis or paracentesis to drain fluid from the chest or abdominal cavities. This relieves pain and pressure.[4]

Chemotherapy, radiation, or surgery can also help reduce tumor size. This can help relieve pain by taking pressure off organs and nerves.

Medications

Pharmacological management of mesothelioma includes the use of pain medications. Doctors typically begin with over-the-counter drugs and step up doses or move to more potent prescription drugs as needed. Many patients ultimately benefit from opioids.

A normal physiological process is tolerance, where the body gets used to a certain dose of pain medication and eventually needs a higher amount. Oncology patients with a history of drug abuse need to notify their medical team so that they can create an individualized pain management plan.

For those concerned with opioid dependence, speak with your practitioner. Specific guidelines exist for palliative care and the risk of dependence and are not considered a reason to undertreat pain. When pain is constant and severe, the benefits usually outweigh the risks.[5]

Medical cannabis is also helpful for some patients with cancer. It is legal in many states and can be used for anxiety, insomnia, and nausea as well.

Cordotomy

Often considered a strategy of last resort for pain management, cordotomy may provide relief for patients with severe pain. Research is limited but suggests that patients should have greater access sooner to this procedure.[4]

A cordotomy is a surgical procedure that makes a lesion in the spine. This disrupts specific nerves that send pain signals to the brain. A few studies of the procedure with mesothelioma patients show that it can provide significant and important pain relief.[4]

Complementary Therapies

Complementary and alternative medicine, or CAM, is a valid set of strategies that do not treat cancer but can help relieve symptoms and side effects, including pain. There are several types of CAM treatments that may work for some patients and not others:

  • Acupuncture
  • Biofeedback
  • Exercise therapy
  • Holistic medicine
  • Massage therapy
  • Nutrition
  • Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation

Other Pain Management Techniques

The pain of mesothelioma is real and physical, but it also has a psychological component. Therapy with a focus on pain management can be useful, not for reducing physical pain but for coping with and tolerating it.

A therapist trained in pain management can help patients use breathing exercises, visualization techniques, and various types of meditation for coping. They also provide helpful tips and advice for managing pain, such as eating a better diet, getting more sleep, putting limitations on activities, and using distractions.  

Cancer Pain is Undertreated

Too often, cancer patients suffer unnecessarily. Treating late-stage oncology pain is complex, and having a trained medical practitioner to help guide this treatment can be helpful.

Patients are encouraged to be advocates in their medical care and ask questions about pain management recommendations. Some reasons that pain may be undertreated in cancer patients include:[6]

  • A fear of addiction to painkillers, especially opioids
  • Difficulty of talking about pain, or not wanting to bother doctors with this concern
  • A fear that more medications or procedures will trigger more side effects
  • Wanting to be strong for family and not complain or be a nuisance
  • Inadequate training among oncologists with respect to pain management
  • Poor communication between physicians and patients

Pain is a real and valid symptom of cancer that should be addressed. Talk to your doctors about pain, what you need, and what your priorities are in treatment. You do not have to simply take mesothelioma pain when treatments can help.

Get Your FREE Mesothelioma Packet

Page Medically Reviewed and Edited by Anne Courtney, AOCNP, DNP

Anne Courtney

Anne Courtney has a Doctor of Nursing Practice degree and is an Advanced Oncology Certified Nurse Practitioner. She has years of oncology experience working with patients with malignant mesothelioma, as well as other types of cancer. Dr. Courtney currently works at University of Texas LIVESTRONG Cancer Institutes.

Connect with Doctor of Nursing Practice Anne Courtney
References
  1. American Cancer Society. (2018, November 16). Signs and Symptoms of Mesothelioma.
    Retrieved from: https://www.cancer.org/cancer/malignant-mesothelioma/detection-diagnosis-staging/signs-symptoms.html
  2. American Cancer Society. (2019, January 3). Facts About Cancer Pain.
    Retrieved from: https://www.cancer.org/treatment/treatments-and-side-effects/physical-side-effects/pain/facts-about-cancer-pain.html
  3. American Cancer Society. (2018, November 16). Palliative Procedures for Malignant Mesothelioma.
    Retrieved from: https://www.cancer.org/cancer/malignant-mesothelioma/treating/palliative-procedures.html
  4. Saunders, J., Ashton, M., Hall, C., Laird, B., and MacLeod, N. (2019). Pain Management in Patients with Malignant Mesothelioma: Challenges and Solutions. Lung Cancer (Auckl). 10, 37-46.
    Retrieved from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6450333/
  5. Meghani SH, Vapiwala N. Bridging the Critical Divide in Pain Management Guidelines From the CDC, NCCN, and ASCO for Cancer Survivors. JAMA Oncol. 2018;4(10):1323–1324. doi:10.1001/jamaoncol.2018.1574
    Retrieved from: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamaoncology/fullarticle/2682591?casa_token=WJpauLSUA04AAAAA:e5FxhzJVto9hQQYYiaeld6Wcd9bnIjH0MkiC9Xu4y6ufhj_niGM6S5sKITZHptDMlCENg6owsQ
  6. HCP Live. (2012, March 20). A Variety of Factors Contribute to the Undertreatment of Cancer Pain.
    Retrieved from: https://www.hcplive.com/view/a-variety-of-factors-contribute-to-the-undertreatment-of-cancer-pain
View All References

Site Navigation

Home
Malignant Mesothelioma
How to Survive Mesothelioma
100 Questions & Answers about Mesothelioma (Free Book)
Surviving Mesothelioma - Beating the Odds (Free Book)
FREE Mesothelioma Packet
Symptoms
Shortness of Breath
Cough
Night Sweats and Fever
Weight Loss
Pain
Difficulty Swallowing
Fatigue and Muscle Weakness
Gastrointestinal Complications
Diagnosis
Pathology
Staging
Stage 1
Stage 2
Stage 3
Stage 4
Metastasis and Progression
Brain Metastasis
Biopsy
miRview Test
Imaging
Fine Needle Aspiration Biopsy
Biomarkers and Blood Tests
Calretinin
Prognosis
Remission
Recurrence
Death Rate
Life Expectancy
Search for a Mesothelioma Cure
Types
Pleural
Peritoneal
Epithelioid
Sarcomatoid
Biphasic
Pericardial
Testicular
Cell Types
Rare Subtypes of Epithelial Mesothelioma
Deciduoid
Desmoplastic
Heterologous
Lymphohistiocytoid
Well-Differentiated Papillary
Tubulopapillary
Small Cell
Benign
Adenomatoid
Cystic
Unresectable
Localized
Idiopathic
Omental
Causes
Risk Factors
Latest Research
Genetic Components
Incidence
Latency Period
Mesothelioma Tumor
Health Insurance Coverage
Related Conditions
Immunodeficiency Disorders
Cholangiocarcinoma
Atelectasis
Pleural Plaques
Pleural Thickening
Pleural Effusion
Peritoneal Effusion (Ascites)
Mesothelial Hyperplasia and Proliferation
Pleuritis and Pleurisy
COPD
Anemia
Breast Cancer
Prevention
Complications
Misdiagnosis
Mesothelioma Commercial
Talcum Baby Powder
Lawyer
Lawsuits
Class Action Lawsuits
Settlements
Simian Virus 40
Differences From Other Cancers
Lung Cancer
Women
Children and Young Adults
Unknown Asbestos Exposure
Mesothelioma Without Asbestos
Cause of Death
Facts 
History
Awareness
Government and Research
National Mesothelioma Virtual Bank
Support
What to Expect
Living with Mesothelioma
Help a Loved One
Wrong and Right Things to Say
Caregivers
Financial Tips
Faith
Nutrition and Lifestyle
Intimacy
Mesothelioma and Fertility in Men
Fertility in Women with Mesothelioma
Emotional Health
COVID-19
Assisted Living
Hospice Care
Dying from Mesothelioma
Mourning
Coping Guide for Children
End-of-Life Decisions
Mesothelioma Awareness Day
Compensation for Victims
Lawyer
Alabama
Alaska
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
Florida
Georgia
Hawaii
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
North Carolina
North Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Vermont
Virginia
Washington D.C.
Washington
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming
Lawsuit
Settlements
Statute of Limitations
Treatment
Surgery
Side Effects
Pneumonectomy
Extrapleural Pneumonectomy
Lobectomy
Pleurectomy / Decortication
Post Op Care
Pleurectomy / Decortication vs. Extrapleural Pneumonectomy
Peritonectomy/Cytoreductive Surgery
Thoracotomy
Thoracoscopy
Pericardiectomy
Wedge Resection
Pleurodesis
Pericardiocentesis
Prosthetics
Paracentesis
Thoracentesis
Chemotherapy
Side Effects
Heated Intraperitoneal
Radiation Therapy
Side Effects
Intensity-Modulated
Brachytherapy
Proton Therapy
Image-Guided
External Beam
Three-Dimensional
Multimodal Therapy
New Treatments
SMART Protocol
Gene Therapy
Suicide Gene Therapy
Tumor-Based p53 Therapy
Cryotherapy for Mesothelioma
Tumor Treating Fields
MicroRNA
Palliative Treatment
Osteopathic
Doctors
Treatment Centers
Treatment & Doctors Near You
Mesothelioma Experts
Medications
Alimta (pemetrexed)
Adriamycin (doxorubicin)
Avastin (bevacizumab)
Cytoxan (cyclophosphamide)
Gemzar (gemcitabine)
Keytruda (Pembrolizumab)
Mitomycin
Navelbine (vinorelbine)
Opdivo (nivolumab) and Yervoy (ipilimumab)
Paraplatin (carboplatin)
Platinol (cisplatin)
Rheumatrex (methotrexate)
Sutent (sunitinib)
Taxol (paclitaxel)
Medical Marijuana
Care Providers
Clinical Trials
Anetumab Ravtansine
Atezolizumab
Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) T-Cell
Durvalumab
Immunotoxin
Interferon Alfa-2b
Onconase (Ranpirnase)
VISTA Protein
Costs
Immunotherapy
Nanotechnology
Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy
Home Medical Equipment
HMGB1 Secretion
Photodynamic Therapy
Targeted Therapies
Apoptosis
Stem Cells
Lung Transplantation
Body-Based Therapies
Alternative Therapies
Paul Kraus’s Method
Doctors and Treatment in Canada
Asbestos Trusts
Veterans
VA Claims for Mesothelioma
Vietnam Veterans
Military Branches and Asbestos
Navy Veterans
Navy Ships
Aircraft Carriers
Battleships
Destroyers
Asbestos on Navy Cruisers
Submarines
Amphibious Ships
Minesweepers
Auxiliary Ships
Marine Corps Veterans
Army Veterans
Air Force Veterans
U.S. Coast Guard
Asbestos
Occupational Exposure
Construction Workers
Shipyard Workers
Ship Repair
Steel Mill Workers
Industrial Workers
Boiler Workers
Power Plant Workers
Firefighters
Automotive Workers
Roofers
Oil Refineries
Mining
Transportation Industry
Machine Operators
Farmers and Agricultural Workers
Migrant Workers
Electrical Wiring
Labor Unions
Prisons
Chimneys, Furnaces, and Wood Stoves
Fiberglass Connection to Mesothelioma
Home Remodeling
School Buildings, Teachers
For Tech Students
Cancer
Lung Cancer
Pleural Based Cancers
Ovarian Cancer
Ovarian Cancer Lawsuits
Companies That Used Asbestos
Awareness and Education
Types of Asbestos & Mesothelioma Risk
Asbestosis
Interstitial Lung Disease
Smoking
Asbestos Ingestion
Exposure in a Natural Disaster
Ban Asbestos
Libby, Montana
Recycling Asbestos
Asbestos Detection
Legal Information by State
Canada
Mexico
United Kingdom
Australia
  • Malignant Mesothelioma
    • Treatment
    • Asbestos Trusts
  • Compensation
    • Veteran Assistance
    • Surviving Mesothelioma
  • FREE Mesothelioma Packet
    • Mesothelioma News
    • About Us / Contact
  • Privacy Policy
    • Disclaimer
    • Editorial Guidelines and Standards
This website is certified by Health On the Net Foundation. Click to verify. This site complies with the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information: verify here.
The information provided by Mesothelioma.net is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

Mesothelioma.net

5430 LBJ Freeway Suite 1200
Dallas, Texas 75240

Serving mesothelioma victims nationwide

1-800-692-8608

  • facebook
  • twitter
© 2022 Mesothelioma.net