Cancer Pain
This section about cancer pain is not intended
as a comprehensive source of medical information, but as a
hub for links to other more detailed sources.
If you find this section
useful, please support our Foundation by clicking
here.
Pain is one of the most feared, and one of the commonest
symptoms associated with cancer. 75% of cancer patients will
have pain, but cancer pain can usually be well controlled
these days.
Pain is usually controlled with drugs. Painkillers such as,
ibuprofen or diclofenac, (Volatarol®) may be enough, but often
codeine or morphine-like drugs will be needed to control pain.
Morphine is the
oldest and best painkiller known to man. Palliative care specialists,
who treat cancer pain, are very familiar with how to use morphine
safely and effectively. People who take morphine for cancer
pain almost never become addicted. It is safe to take large
doses of these drugs for as long as they are needed.
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. Nerve destruction procedures
may be necessary to alleviate pain. Sometimes, painkilling
drugs are given as an infusion next to the spinal cord (epidural
infusion).
Hospices provide holistic care and help patients and their
families cope with the consequences of cancer.
If you have a pain problem, which needs treatment you
should contact your own doctor who can refer you to a pain
clinic in your area. This site is for information only and
cannot be treated as a substitute for the medical advice of
your own doctor. The Pain Relief Foundation is not able to
offer individual medical advice.
Dealing With Pain Series: Cancer
The Pain Relief Foundation has produced it's own leaflet
containing some simple information on cancer pain which
is available to download in PDF format:-
N.B. Requires Adobe
Acrobat Reader to view. If you don't have
the Acrobat reader you can download it here
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Useful Websites:
There are many sites on the World Wide Web offering information
to people about chronic pain and its treatment. The suggested
links, to websites providing such information, from this website
are considered by the doctors at the Pain Relief Foundation
to be useful and informative. If you know of a good web site
about chronic pain then we would be pleased to hear your recommendation.
The Pain Relief Foundation is not responsible for the
content of these web sites, and does not endorse any commercial
product or service mentioned or advised on these sites.
- www.cancerhelp.org.uk:
Helpline and free information service about cancer
and cancercare from Cancer Research UK.
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Support Organisations in the UK:
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