Full Question:  "I have multiple myeloma and am starting into remission with the chemo.  I have less pain when I am on chemo(10 pills 4 days on, 4 days off).  The best therapy is walking, but the pain, even with pain meds, is severely limiting my ability to go very far.  Will this re-mission game help me in my type of cancer remission?"

Congratulations on going into remission!  This is a very important question about pain for teenagers and young adults with cancer.  It also is an important question about the Re-Mission video game and what effects the game will have on people who play it.

Let's start by addressing the pain.  In people receiving chemotherapy, pain can be a result of several different factors.  In order to best treat your pain, it's essential for your doctor to understand what is causing your own pain.  Is it a side-effect from the chemotherapy, like nerve pain?  Is it damage that was done by the tumor itself, like a bone lesion?  Or is it pain from surgery that was done to biopsy or remove the tumor?  By keeping track of when the pain comes and goes, and what makes it better or worse, you can work with your doctor to discover the cause of the pain and figure out the best therapy for your pain.

The treatment for pain ranges from traditional pain medicines to more alternative techniques.  Some of the common pain medicines include Tylenol, Codeine, or even different formulations of morphine.  Pain medicines can be quick-acting (which you take only when you have pain) or more long-acting (which you take once or twice per day to prevent pain from occurring).  Some pain medicines you take by mouth, others can be delivered by a skin patch which you wear, or some pain is so severe you may require IV dosing.  Other non-pharmaceutical ways to deal with pain include guided imagery, biofeedback, massage, or even acupuncture.  Different therapies work for different types of people with different types of pain.  As always, check with your doctor before trying a new pain-relief technique!

Now let's talk about the Re-Mission video game.  The video game has not been studied for its effects on pain, but it has been shown to increase cancer knowledge, self-efficacy (confidence and independence), antibiotic utilization, and even level of chemotherapy in the blood (please see Re-Mission outcome study for more info).   Other research has shown that positive distraction can also help reduce the experience of pain.  It's possible that playing Re-Mission might help in this regard, but that hasn't yet been directly studied.

I hope this answer helps!

Please note: All information contained on this website, including information relating to health conditions, products and treatments, is for informational purposes only. It is often presented in summary or aggregate form. This information is not meant to substitute for the advice provided by your own doctor or other medical professionals. It is recommended that people discuss cancer care and treatment options with a doctor or medical provider who specializes in oncology.