My cousin had Hodgkins cancer as a small child. As a survivor (now 30 yrs old) he is in severe pain.?

His doctors are prescribing Morphine. Is this typical? The pain is is in his, down his leg and in his back as well.

I'm sorry to hear about your cousin's condition. Morphine will help with symptoms but wll not address any underlying cause of pain so if they haven't identified the reason for his pain there's more work to be done.

If he was successfully treated 20+ years ago, he probably received significant doses of radiation treatment to much of his body. It would be extremely rare for his Hodgkin's to return. With symptoms now, it could represent either late nerve injury from radiation or a second tumor if related to his past Hodgkin's treatment. However, other causes need to be considered as well. If he hasn't seen a neurologist that would be worthwhile.

I hope your cousin's doctors are able to help him figure out what's going on and control his pain better.

I would hope that his wife can look beyond her own personal prejudices and look at what is most important - the very real and severe pain being experienced by her husband. Drs do not prescribe strong medicines like morphine to people who do not really need it. Report It

Sometimes a medication called Neurontin can be helpful for neuropathic pain in a way that narcotics don't help. I'm glad I could help, and I hope he feels better! Report It

sad to say..but the hodgkins is probly back

He might have neuropathy from the various treatments he did as a child. The neuropathy could cause severe pain but often drugs other than opiates are prescribed first before opiates are used. Each neuropathy case is individual. Why don't you talk to your cousin about his situation. I doubt the Hodgkin's has returned because his Dr would have checked for this prior to prescribing the morphine. If he does have a recurrence then he might need your friendship during this time. Having had chemotherapy and/or radiation as a child for the Hodgkin's also puts him at much higher risk of a secondary cancer later in life so I think you need to get the answers from him as to what is really going on with him.

You write the pain is in his......, down his leg but I dont know where you meant the first pain was . Anyway,he also could have a back problem separate from history of Hodgkins so if the MD didnt say it was recurrence, it might be sciatica caused by pressure on the nerve in the spine like regular back injuries which take about 2 or 3 weeks to heal.