Most people with cancer can experience pain at some point. Pain can be caused by:

• The cancer pressing on tissues, nerves, bone or a nearby organ
• The cancer blocking part of the body, such as the bowel
• Nerve or tissue damage caused by surgery
• An area of damaged skin or nerves caused by radiotherapy
• The side effects of some anti-cancer drugs, e.g. muscle stiffness
• Side-effects of treatment that may last or begin months or years after treatment.

Experiencing pain can have a big impact on your mood:

There are various things you can do to manage your emotions when experiencing pain:

• Relaxation techniques, such as breathing exercises can help to calm the body.
• Mindfulness can help to still the body and mind, and focus on current thoughts.
• Acceptance and Commitment Therapy can help to change the relationship to pain, helping people to learn to live alongside it.
• A diary of the pain you experience can be helpful with understanding the nature and experience of pain, and seeing if it changes over time. It can also help your health professional understand what type of pain it is. This symptom tracker can be adapted to focus on pain, to monitor the following:
  • the date and time of your pain
  • how long the pain lasts
  • where the pain starts
  • if the pain is in one area of the body, or more than one area
  • what you were doing that made the pain worse
  • what you were doing that made the pain better.
• If appropriate, you could consider increasing your exercise, but this is not recommended for all types of pain or cancer, so it is important to speak to your GP or other health professional first.
• In addition to the points suggested here, make sure you discuss any pain you have with your Clinical Nurse Specialist and Doctor so that you receive the best pain control medication for you.
• More information on pain and pain management can be found at Macmillan Cancer Support.