I’ve been through 8 years of cancer treatment. Tested, prodded, poked and pricked. Woken up at all hours of the night by well-intended nurses seeking to check my vitals. Had three bone marrow aspirations, numerous central venous catheters inserted (and removed), and stuck with needles for blood work more times than I can calculate. (Plus, two back surgeries, though they almost don't count for this treatise, as they were not cancer-related.) But the only thing that really hurts is “ripping off the Band-Aid.” That could be the transparent adhesive IV dressing that holds a line in place, the simple Band-Aid (and cotton ball) after an injection in my tummy, or the adhesive leads of an EKG - which apparently must be applied to the hairiest parts of my chest/body in order to be effective.
In general, cancer doesn't hurt; at least mine doesn't. So, admittedly, I haven't had my pain tolerance level really tested - like so many other poor unfortunate souls have.
My treatment hasn't been at all painful either. The infusions haven't caused me any soreness, nor have the side effects been anything that I could describe as "hurting."
And, a few of the periodic probing procedures that I have had which are known to come with a notorious level of distress, were managed with appropriate amounts of anesthetics (#LoveLidocaine). Sometimes the reputation / anticipation of ache can be more uncomfortable than the actual anguish.
I pride myself on having a fairly high threshold for pain. I don't go beyond necessary to prove anything, but it does seem like situations that many folks describe as "super painful" seem to be manageable for me (ie: the aforementioned bone marrow aspirations; where they stick an approximately 6" long needle into my posterior superior iliac crest - ie: hip bone). Some nurses do know the trick of using an alcohol wipe to ease off that sticky item, and spare the hair. But most are gripping and ripping (removing) before I can intervene, and then it is over before you know it - at least before I know it, but after my hair follicles suffer through it. I'll continue to suck it up and tough it out (tolerate), because there is nothing more embarrassing than seeing a grown adult cry when their "Band-Aid" is removed.
