Does pain indicate the end?

Hi, I was just wondering how many of you experience severe pain that is bad enough that you have to take morphene or other narcotics? I have extreme pain down my right leg and my lower back. Up until a few months ago I had no pain except from chemo. I am wondering if this is an indication that the end is near. I am currently on Topotecan I have had 3 treatments don't think it is working as pain keeps getting worse. I also have lung and liver, bone mets so I wonder if they are growing too. My doctor told me he would not give me a CT until I have had 4 treatments cause it takes that long to kick in. I am just worried I won't make it that long....

[nyc lady]

No one knows when it is the end.....I am sure that the pain is do to the mets, but, could it be a "side effect" from the chemo?  What has the doctor said about the pain?

Think positive, you will make to the CT Scan and the 4 treatments....hopefully when the Topotecan kicks in, the pain will start subsiding.

This disease really sucks.  I have known people that have been in pain, and with chemo, the pain subsided as some of the tumors shrunk.  

Don't give up....keep fighting!!!!

We are here to help you!

[Amaris]

I agree with NCY Lady, no one really knows when the end is. It could be that the tumors you have are pressing on parts of your body making you sore. It could be the chemo too, you never know. I know that my mom had alot of inbearable back pain when she started having issues with her kidneys. Like the comment before, just don't ever give up, keep fighting!  I hate that this is happening to all of you women, I don't know physically how you all feel, but I've witnessed this horrible disease first hand and know the pain it causes. Please keep us updated.You will be in my prayers as always

[Diane B]

Did your doctor give you something for long term and break through pain.  Back in May I was in a lot of pain and everything I took didn't seem to last.  Until a doctor said I need to take a long and short acting pain pills to get it under control and it worked.  Have you seen a pain doctor?  It maybe worth checking into seeing one.

Good Luck!  I know it is not fun to be in a lot pain.  Like NYC Lady Don't give up keep fighting!!  Things will get better.

[rootietootie]

Have you doctor check to make sure you have not developed a blood clot in your leg too.  I will pray for you , god bless you.  Shannon

[Tybear]

Hey Stephanie...I'm so sorry your in so much pain. I know how scared you must be. I know I get frightened with every pain I have, that something bad is going on. I can imagine that the mets to your bones are probably causing you some pain. Please talk to your doctor about getting better meds. I know for me, the pain was easier to deal with if I kept it under control. Once I let let it go so long, it was hard to get anything to work. Stay strong and keep fighting. I know how tired you must be of all this, but you will make it to your scan...
Becky

[rmarie]

Jatoo posted on a new therapy his wife is on, and it seems to be working.  This is the link -
http://www.asco.org/portal/site/ASCO/menuitem.34d60f5624ba07fd506fe310ee37a01d/?vgnextoid=76f8201eb61a7010VgnVCM100000ed730ad1RCRD&vmview=abst_detail_view&confID=47&index=y&abstractID=34542
and this is the first sentence from the Method of the study, reporting the who received it and what drugs they used.  "Patients with recurrent, resistant or refractory, pretreated ovarian carcinoma were eligible for this compassionate use program of oxaliplatin (85 mg/m2 in 2 hours) and leucovorin (200 mg/m2 in 1 hour) on day 1, followed by a continuous infusion of 5FU (2,600 mg/m2 in 48 hours), every 2 weeks."  It is worth asking about.  I also agree with a referral to a pain Dr. to assist you in maintaining quality to life by being relatively pain free.  My thoughts are with you in this fight against this awlful disease.  

[coogeegirl]

I really do think that it is a side effect from the chemo, while I having carbo/taxol they had to put me on a course of morphine to help me deal with the myalgia pain as I had a very bad reaction to the taxol.

Keep fighting you will be able to wean yourself of the pain meds once your chemo is finished, be strong!!!!

Jenny

[coogeegirl]

[Helmar]

Hi Stephanie...I'm also doing Topotecan.... just finished the 2nd course of 5 consecutive days weekly, and I have pain in my right hip, going down to the knee. I've not had this pain before, and another woman I know who is also taking Topotecan raised this with me first, as she was experiencing terrible hip pain too, so the two of us have this, so it must be a side affect of the Topotecan. Can you take Taxotere/Carboplatin? If yes, then this is a good combination straight after the Topotecan. This was how I managed to get my numbers down last December from 7500 to 290. I didn't get any joy from the Topotecan, but my Oncol. predicted that it would work better if I had the Tax/Carbo next.... and it worked. Maybe some of your pain could be from a tumour pressing on a nerve, so if the chemo will work for you, then that should help a lot to lessen the pain too.
Wishing you all the best.... hugs...Helen...

[freshair]

I learned from Tybear that the younger you are the more pain you have from this chemo and the neulasta shots. I feel so bad for you--please let us know if the pain subsides in a few days. Those days after chemo are awful and I find myself getting depressed but then it takes a few days to get out of the "cancer dump slump."

I too get worried that I won't make it that long being on my next chemos. It is a fear that we all live with. You have to listen to your inner self. Are your numbers coming down if they work for you?  And if you are really feeling this way then you by all means can tell your oncologist that you are not comfortable waiting another week for a CT scan. After all these are our bodies and our health insurance plans.  

Sending you prayers, and positive feelings. Stay strong. Please let us know if the pain subsides. Helen

[alanpvegas]

Not at all...my mom has been on pain meds since the beginning; it is not uncommon due to surgery or cancer seeding or cancer tumors, etc.  As a cancer patient, your right to pain relief is recommended and encouraged by the ACS and NCI...despite objections many physicans throw at you (due to arrogance rather than education).  Cancer pain is a special pain and, yes, can also be caused by the chemo (hey it's toxic).  Request a pain speciailist (usually a pharmacist who specializes in managing your pain with medications and other technhiques) if your oncologist isn't doing a good enough job.

But the short answer is, no, it has nothing to do with your cancer treatment, progress, end of life, nothing.  Some people have none, some people have tons...each body is different and each cancer pain is unique to the individual.  Unless there is some radiological evidence (multiple tumors pressing against vital organs, etc.), I can't see there being any indication of the end.  Get pain management...it's your right.