Controlling cancer pain

This section has been written to help you understand more about cancer pain. Some people with cancer never have any pain, but some people may have pain due to the cancer or its treatment. If pain occurs, it can usually be successfully controlled by you, your family or friends, and members of the medical and nursing team who are caring for you.

The causes of pain are now well understood and there are many effective ways of treating it. There is rarely any need for anyone to suffer uncontrolled pain.

Pain is different for each of us. Even people with the same illness have very different experiences. Your experience of pain is unique and should be treated according to your own particular needs. It is important to tell the doctors and nurses looking after you if you are in pain, so that it can be effectively treated.

The amount of pain you have is not related to how severe your cancer is. Having pain does not necessarily mean that the cancer is advanced, or more serious than if you have no pain. Pain does not automatically get worse as the cancer develops. About three in 10 people having treatment for cancer will have some pain. If the cancer is advanced (has come back or spread) around seven in 10 people will have pain.

This section describes the wide range of medical and complementary treatments available for controlling pain. It also looks at some of the support services that can help you. We cannot advise you about the best treatment for yourself. This information can only come from your own doctor who is familiar with your medical history.