Pain - will this help? - Cancer Message Board

canuhelp · 12-17-2004, 09:32 AM

Hi...

My friend's brother has just recently been diagnosed with ostesarcoma and I wanted to try and help. He is starting on his chemo soon and I know chemo causes bodily pain.

I was wondering if anyone who has been through this could tell me if the bodily pain could possibly be alleviated by a higher thread count bedsheet or by using a mattress topper like tempur-pedic?

I know these questions sound stupid but I don't know how else to help. I am not sure what kind of body pain is associated with chemo... so I thought maybe a softer bed surface would prevent pressure points and softer sheets would prevent that scratchy kind of pain when your skin is really sensitive.
So if you could give me advice on this or any other pointers or suggestions I would really appreciate it.

Thank you so much...

SamQKitty · 12-17-2004, 10:46 PM

First of all, chemo does not necessarily cause body pain. It really depends on the type of chemo. Osteosarcoma sounds like a bone cancer, and that in itself could be quite painful.

It is so very sweet of you to be thinking of ways to help. It may not alleviate pain, but the temper-pedic bed topper is wonderful as far as helping a person to get comfortable and get a good night's sleep. I have one myself and really like it. And, guess what...it was given to me by my cousin the year I went through chemo!

You may want to ask your friend if he/she knows anything that his/her brother would like to have, or has expressed interest in. Unfortunately, often we don't exactly know what we need until we've already gone through the experience.

Ruth

Kalie · 12-19-2004, 03:26 PM

Your friend should talk to his Dr about pain management. I have stage IV breast cancer and have been managing my pain with prescribed Oxycontin and Oxycodone. There are many options for your friend.