A Patient Diagnosed with Cancer Has Been Receiving Radiation Treatments

A patient diagnosed with cancer has been receiving radiation treatments to shrink the tumor. After several weeks, the patient tells the nurse that she has not needed as much pain medication. What should the nurse consider when responding to this report?

A) The radiation treatments have probably reduced the pressure of the tumor on adjacent tissues.
B) The tumor is secreting pain-control chemicals initiated by the radiation.
C) The patient may be developing tolerance to the pain.
D) The patient is probably continuing to have pain but is benefiting from the placebo effect of taking action against the tumor.