Pain is unpleasant, and uncontrolled pain can have a great effect on all of the activities of daily life. Uncontrolled pain makes it difficult to function normally, and to cope with the stresses associated with having cancer and undergoing cancer treatment. Indeed, uncontrolled pain may prevent the giving of cancer treatment.

Managing pain is very important, and as important as treating the cancer; if pain is not treated then it may become an ongoing problem (even if the cause of the pain gets better), and may become a greater problem over time (even if the cause of the pain does not get worse).  In other words it is easier to treat pain once it starts, than when it has been present for some time.

Sometimes patients are reluctant to admit that they have pain, because they are concerned about the meaning of the pain (has the cancer got worse?), and the consequences of admitting to the pain (will the cancer treatment be stopped?). Carers have an important role in encouraging patients to report any pain to their doctors and nurses.

Example: Click here to read about a patient story