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Pain
Cancer pain is not inevitable. Although most people with cancer have a fear of severe pain, about a third of people with cancer will not have significant pain.
If you do have pain because of your cancer, effective pain relief is available. It will help you maintain a good quality of life for as long as possible.
Lack of sleep, anxiety, anger, depression, loneliness or feeling out of control can all make your pain seem much worse. So if you can relax and rest, be with friends and feel in control of at least some aspects of your life, it can help to ease your pain.
Total pain control involves attending to the needs of the whole person.
What if I have pain?
No-one else can describe, measure or dismiss the amount of pain you are feeling. And it can’t be treated if you don’t tell anyone about it. Tell your doctor about your pain so then you can be given the right pain relief. Describe your pain, where it is, when and the type of pain, eg stabbing, aching or sharp. It’s not a good idea to wait until your pain is really bad before telling anyone.
Once your doctor has talked to you about your pain, the best type of treatment can be started. This will be watched to make sure your pain is controlled – it’s aim is to keep you alert and pain free so that you can get on with your life.
The right drug in the right dose given at the right time can relieve 80-90% of cancer pain.
Don’t worry that you are taking too many drugs, or that you may become addicted. If you are in pain all the time, you will need constant pain relief. Letting your pain build up isn’t a good idea. Sometimes pain can be an indication of what your cancer is doing so it is important your doctor knows this.
Untreated pain can cause muscle tension, headache, sleeplessness and make you feel awful. There are no points for enduring pain unnecessarily!!
Call Cancer Council Helpline 13 11 20 if you'd like more help and information.
Find out more
Read Understanding and controlling cancer pain and Emotions and cancer
American Cancer Society - see Patients, family and friends>coping with physical and emotional changes>pain
Cancerbackup - see Resources and support>symptoms and side effects>pain
National Cancer Institute - see Cancer topics>coping with cancer>pain Cancer.Net- see Diagnosis and treatment >treating cancer>managing side effects  Top |
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