What are the symptoms of cancer pain?

Pain may be felt near a tumour, where cancer has spread, or in an area affected by treatment. It can involve bone, nerves, organs, muscles, or skin. Some pain is constant; other pain comes in episodes or changes with movement, coughing, eating, or position. Pain intensity does not always show how serious its cause is, and new pain should be assessed rather than endured.

Keep a simple record of where the pain is, what it feels like, when it starts, what worsens it, and how it affects sleep or activity. Tell your oncology or primary-care team if pain is new, changing, or not controlled. Cancer Pain Management may include medicines, physical measures, emotional support, or treatment aimed at the cause. Palliative Radiotherapy can be considered for selected painful areas.

Seek urgent help for sudden severe pain, new weakness or numbness, loss of bladder or bowel control, chest pain, breathing difficulty, confusion, or repeated vomiting. Contact your care team promptly if pain prevents sleep, eating, walking, or taking prescribed medicines. Palliative Care can support symptom control at any stage alongside cancer treatment.

What might be causing this pain? Which treatment should I try first? How should I use breakthrough medicine? Which changes mean I should call urgently?