Pain Management

There are different ways of treating or managing pain.

Pain medications

Managing pain often involves using the right drug for the type of pain and the right amount of it.
There are different types of drugs that may be used to manage pain. They include opioid medications or other pain-relieving drugs called adjuvant medications. Opioids are often the main drugs used to treat cancer pain.
Sometimes combinations of pain medications are needed to effectively relieve pain.

Cancer treatments

Radiation therapy may be used for pain caused by cancer in the bone (bone metastases) or when the tumour puts pressure on nerves or tissues and causes pain.
Chemotherapy drugs or hormonal drugs may be used to reduce pain if a tumour is responsive to these.
Surgery may be needed to remove part or all of a tumour that may be causing the pain. Surgery is sometimes done to cut nerves in the pain-conducting nerve path.

Other ways of relieving or reducing pain

There are other, non-drug methods that may be used to reduce or relieve pain and may be used on their own or in combination with pain-relieving medications.
Some of these include physical therapy, electrical nerve stimulation, behavioural therapies or complementary and alternative therapies.

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If you are outside Canada

We can give information about cancer care and support services in Canada only. To find a cancer organization in your country, visit Union for International Cancer Control or International Cancer Information Service Group.