Dealing with Pain Without Losing Your Cool

Pain is exhausting, and while meds can help, they’re not always enough. Here are some additional strategies:

• Distraction Techniques – Podcasts, coloring books, or even stress balls. What helps: Engaging in something absorbing that shifts your focus away from the pain.

  
  

• Heat & Cold Therapy – Heating pads and ice packs are your best friends. What helps: Experimenting with different combinations to find what provides the most relief.

  
  

• Breathwork & Meditation – Not woo-woo, just practical pain relief. What helps: Box breathing (inhale for 4, hold for 4, exhale for 4) or guided meditations designed for pain management.

  
  

• Gentle Movement – Stretching or slow yoga to prevent stiffness. What helps: Using an app or video to guide you through light stretches that keep circulation moving.

  
  

• Advocating for Yourself – Making sure your pain is actually being addressed by your care team. What helps:Keeping a pain journal to track symptoms, triggers, and effectiveness of treatments so you can push for better care.

  
  

Pain is hard enough without feeling like you’re completely losing it. The key is finding what works for you—because no two people experience pain the same way.

Some days, one strategy might help more than another, and that’s okay. The goal isn’t to make the pain magically disappear (if only!), but to give yourself as many tools as possible to manage it in a way that makes life more livable.

Have a go-to pain relief hack that’s helped you? Share it! The more we talk about real solutions, the more we can help each other get through the tough days.

#cancer #docancerbetter #sideeffects