For women with uterine cancer, pain can be caused by the tumor pressing against nerves and other organs near the uterus. Pain associated with uterine cancer may also be caused by treatment for the disease. A doctor or a specialist can relieve or reduce uterine cancer pain in several ways, including pain medicine, radiation, and a nerve block.
Most cases of uterine cancer occur in the lining (endometrium) of the uterus. This article uses the term "uterine cancer" to refer to this type of cancer, also known as endometrial cancer. This article does not discuss a rare type of uterine cancer that can occur in the muscles or other tissues that support the uterus. Click Uterine Sarcoma for more information on this topic.
Women with uterine cancer may experience pain as a result of their illness. Pain can be caused by a tumor that is pressing against nerves and other organs near the uterus, or pain may be caused by uterine cancer treatment. The patient's doctor or a specialist in pain control can relieve or reduce uterine cancer pain in several ways, which include:
Pain medicine -- Medicines can often relieve uterine cancer pain. Although these medicines may make people drowsy and constipated, resting and taking laxatives can help.
Radiation -- High-energy rays can help relieve pain with uterine cancer by shrinking the tumor. Radiation therapy can be given with or without hormone therapy.
Nerve block -- The doctor may inject alcohol into the area around certain nerves around the uterus to block the uterine cancer pain. This procedure is called nerve block.