People affected by cancer may have pain for a number of reasons, it may be caused by the cancer, or its treatments or have another cause. Pain can affect people with cancer at any stage, but it is more common when cancer is advanced. Having the pain controlled is an important part of your treatment and care, your doctor or nurse can help you manage your pain in the hospital, in the community or at home.
Click here to watch a video about understanding pain.
Some people have pain from other health conditions, for example, arthritis or diabetes. Your pain treatment plans should also include other conditions that cause pain.
Some possible reasons for pain are:
- The cancer pressing on tissues or nerves, on a bone or an organ nearby.
- The cancer blocking a part of the body, for example the bowel, and stopping it working normally.
- Surgery causing nerve or tissue damage in the area.
- Radiotherapy damaging the skin or nerves in the treated area.
- Side effects of anti-cancer drugs (chemotherapy), such as a sore mouth, nerve damage (peripheral neuropathy), muscle or joint stiffness or pain. It can come and go and the area may feel numb or sensitive. You might describe the pain as: burning, tingling, stabbing, a shooting pain or pins and needles. Certain anti-nerve pain drugs and other treatments can be used to treat nerve pain.
If you get a new ache or pain, you may worry the cancer has come back, or is getting worse. This is a common worry, but there are different reasons for changes in pain levels.
Always tell your doctor about any new pain or symptom, so you can get the right treatment to help you.
