Who treats cancer pain?

You

You play an important part in making sure your pain is kept under control.

Let someone know if you have pain. Don't leave it too long. You might think that you can handle it by yourself. But pain can be very difficult to control if it’s not managed quickly.

Being in pain can make you feel stressed and emotional. It can be harder for you to deal with relationships, cope with any treatment you’re having and struggle with everyday life in general. So try to be honest with yourself and tell people how much pain you have. Then they can help you to control it.

Your specialist palliative care doctor

You might hear the term palliative care. Palliative care means treatment designed to relieve symptoms rather than cure illness. But palliative treatment can be helpful at any stage of illness if you have troubling symptoms or side effects of treatment. Examples of symptoms are pain or sickness.

Some doctors spend all their time treating pain and symptoms. They are called palliative care doctors or symptom control doctors. They can see patients in hospital (in wards and in clinics), in a hospice or at home.

Specialist palliative care nurses

Specialist nurses are skilled in treating cancer pain. You might hear them called palliative care nurses or symptom control nurses. Some hospitals have symptom control clinics run by Nurse Consultants who specialise in pain control. These nurses are also based in the community and can contact you when at home.

Anaesthetists

Anaesthetists are highly skilled in treating pain. They decide which drugs to give to keep your pain under control after an operation. They also help to treat other types of pain, such as cancer pain.

Anaesthetists might have an important role in helping to control your pain. Some use ​complementary therapies​  such as ​acupuncture​, as well as conventional treatments such as painkillers or ​nerve blocks​.

Many hospitals now have dedicated pain clinics run by anaesthetists. These clinics are not just for people with cancer. The staff who work there are experts in treating all types of pain.

Pharmacists

Pharmacists check the safety of the medicines you are taking. They look at the types of drugs, amounts (doses), and the combination of painkillers. They might ask about side effects and if it is helping with your pain.

They will also make sure that you can take your painkillers safely with any other medicines you might have.

They can tell you when best to take the painkiller and what to do if you miss it or have been sick with it.

Occupational therapists

Occupational therapists can help you find ways to manage everyday life. Some occupational therapists can also give you relaxation advice to help with pain management.

Some things may be more difficult when you have pain, such as eating, cooking or bathing. 

The occupational therapists might recommend blocks to raise your armchair so that you can get up more easily. They can arrange home equipment, such as commodes, if your home circumstances make it difficult for you to get to the toilet.

Physiotherapists

Some physiotherapists are trained to care for people with cancer. They can help a great deal, with careful exercises to make your joints and muscles more comfortable, and massage to control your pain. They can also show you breathing techniques to help you relax.

Psychologists and counsellors

It is quite common for psychologists and counsellors to work in pain teams, particularly at chronic pain clinics.

They cannot help to get rid of the pain physically. But they can help people cope with the emotional pain of cancer and its treatments. They will try and help you find other ways to manage.

Other people that might help with pain

There are other people who might be important in helping to control your pain. This could include your family and friends, your GP, your district nurse, a psychiatrist, a social worker or a religious or spiritual leader.