The blood carries it to the area of bone that is damaged by the cancer. Relief of pain can last from a few weeks to several months. The oncologist will know if a person's bone pain can be treated with strontium. Some kinds of pain respond to other medicines. Some people find it helpful for pain caused by irritation or damage to nerves, as in the pain from shingles.
Some women find that capsaicin cream relieves the long-term pain after mastectomy.
It has also been put in candies and lozenges for mouth sores. Capsaicin causes a burning feeling when it is first used. Some people don't like this burning and stop treatment. Others find that the burning goes away. Ask your doctor or nurse for more information.