Cancer health centre

Cancer pain: A guide for you and your family

Having cancer does not always mean having pain. For those with pain, there are many different kinds of medicines, ways to receive the medicine, and non-medicine methods that can relieve the pain you may have. You should not accept pain as a normal part of having cancer. When you are free of pain, you can sleep and eat better, enjoy the company of family and friends, and continue with your work and hobbies.

Important facts about cancer pain treatment

Only you know how much pain you have. Telling your doctor and nurse when you have pain is important. Not only is pain easier to treat when you first have it, but pain can be an early warning sign of the side effects of the cancer or the cancer treatment. Together - you, your nurse, and doctor - can talk about how to treat your pain. You have a right to pain relief, and you should insist on it.

Here are some facts about cancer pain that may help answer some of your questions.

Cancer pain can almost always be relieved

There are many different medicines and methods available to control cancer pain. You should expect your doctor to seek all the information and resources necessary to make you as comfortable as possible. Your may be referred to a pain specialist, who may be an oncologist, anesthesiologist, neurologist, or neurosurgeon.A pain control team may also include specialist nurses, pharmacists, psychologists and social workers.

Organisations such as Cancer Research UK and Macmillan Cancer Support have lists of support groups that can provide information on pain management help. You could also contact the British Pain Society, which has lists of pain clinics and can advise you of your local one.

Controlling your cancer pain is part of the overall treatment for cancer

Your doctor wants and needs to hear about what works and what doesn't work for your pain. Knowing about the pain will help your doctor better understand how the cancer and the treatment are affecting your body. Discussions about pain will not distract your doctor from treating the cancer.

Preventing pain from starting or getting worse is the best way to control it

Pain is best relieved when treated early. You may hear some people refer to this as "staying on top" of the pain. Do not try to hold off as long as possible between doses. Pain may get worse if you wait, and it may take longer, or require larger doses, for your medicine to give you relief.

Telling the doctor or nurse about pain is not a sign of weakness

You have a right to ask for pain relief. Not everyone feels pain in the same way. There is no need to be "stoic" or "brave" if you have more pain than others with the same kind of cancer. In fact, as soon as you have any pain you should speak up. Remember, it is easier to control pain when it just starts rather than waiting until after it becomes severe.

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