Chronic pain is a common long term effect of cancer treatments. 

Several years ago our vet learned that she had the BRCA gene. She decided to have surgery to reduce her risks of getting cancer. When she came back I took my amazing nearly 20 year old cat Dale to see her and I said, “If anything weird comes up, I am always available for questions, I have been where you are.” She said, “I wish they told me I might experience chronic pain forever. It would not have changed my choices, I wish I knew beforehand.” 

I know I have experienced this as well and no one warned me either. I wonder if we are not told because doctors have not experienced it so they do not know how common this is. Or if we are not told because there is a fear that we would not opt to do the surgery to avoid potential chronic pain. It is a curious topic. I know my choices would not have changed. I also prefer more information to less.

Have you experienced this? Did anyone prepare you for the possibility?

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