¨ Pain is one of the most feared, and one of the commonest symptoms
associated with cancer.
¨ But it is important to know that pain can be well controlled in most cases,
often with simple combinations of medicines.
¨ What can cause pain in cancer and various
ways of dealing with pain. Also the fears that many patients
have about taking strong painkillers, like morphine.
WHAT CAN CAUSE PAIN IN CANCER?
¨ The cancer can cause pain itself because of damage to tissues, such as
bone, muscle or nerves.
¨ Sometimes pain may be related to the treatment you have received for your
cancer, such as surgery or chemotherapy, or to other things, such as
constipation or pressure sores.
¨ The kind of treatment you will be offered depends very much on what your
doctor thinks is causing the pain.
¨ It is very important that you do not suffer in silence. The doctors and nurses
may not be aware of your pain and what it feels like, so please do not be
afraid to tell them.
¨ You may be asked to describe more about your pains. You may be
examined and tests may be done in order to find out exactly what is causing
the pain.
¨ If pain still persists even with large doses of morphine-like drugs, a
dedicated pain team may be asked to assist the palliative care specialists in
controlling pain.
¨ Morphine-like drugs may not help nerve pain, due to pressure or nerve
damage, as a result of the disease or its treatment. Antidepressant drugs
such as amitriptyline, and anti-epileptic drugs such as gabapentin, can
sometimes help nerve pain.
¨ Nerve destruction procedures may be necessary to alleviate pain. A pain
specialist must carry these out.
¨ Sometimes painkilling drugs are given as a continuous infusion next to the
spinal cord (epidural infusion) which can be continued at home.
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