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Cancer pain can almost always be controlled. If pain is a problem, please tell your doctor or nurse. They will be able to help you.
While you are being treated in hospital, you can ask to see the pain management nurse.
If you have pain some time after being treated for cancer, you should mention it at your follow up appointments. Perhaps the pain relief medication you have been using could be changed for something that might be more effective for you.
In preparation for your appointments, you might find it useful to keep a pain diary. There is a useful example on the breast cancer.org website, that applies to anyone who might want to keep a pain diary.
You may also find these booklets and web links useful…
Feeling better: controlling pain and other symptoms
Macmillan factsheet. This includes information on the causes of pain, drug and non-drug treatments, what you can do to help yourself, and how others can help you. The factsheet also covers other symptoms including fatigue, eating problems, sleep disturbance and depression.
Cancer Pain Org website
Information on cancer pain, what causes it, quality of life issues, how to talk to your doctor, frequently asked questions etc.
Easing cancer pain (Michigan State University) website
This website aims to help patients understand cancer pain and encourage them to seek effective treatment. There is information on the causes of pain, why patients may not seek pain relief, and the methods of pain relief available. There is also a section containing patients' personal accounts of cancer pain.
Cancer Index (guide to Internet resources for cancer)
You can use this to find worldwide sites on cancer pain and many other cancer topics.
