What is the first treatment for cancer pain?

Pain may come from the tumour, treatment, inflammation, nerve irritation, or another condition. The team asks where it hurts, what it feels like, when it occurs, and how it affects sleep, movement, and eating. They may start or adjust pain medicine and treat related problems such as constipation or nausea.

If a tumour is causing a focused painful area, palliative radiotherapy may reduce pressure or irritation. Cancer pain management can also include physical measures, emotional support, and specialist palliative care. Palliative care can begin alongside cancer treatment and is not limited to the final stage of illness.

Keep a simple record of pain location, severity, triggers, medicine times, and unwanted effects. Take pain medicines exactly as prescribed and do not stop regular treatment suddenly without advice. Tell the team if pain breaks through, prevents sleep, or makes walking or breathing difficult so the plan can be adjusted.

Seek urgent help for sudden severe pain with weakness, loss of bladder or bowel control, new confusion, chest pain, or difficulty breathing. Contact the oncology or palliative team promptly when pain is uncontrolled, a medicine causes extreme sleepiness, or you cannot keep fluids down.

What is causing my pain, and what is the treatment goal? Which medicine should I use for ongoing pain and which for breakthrough pain? What side effects should I expect, and who should I call if the plan is not enough?