Cancer Pain

What is Cancer Pain?

Cancer pain is any pain caused by a cancer or by its treatment. A tumour can press on nerves, bone, or organs, and it can release substances that inflame and sensitise the surrounding tissue. Treatments such as surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy can also leave pain behind.

The pain can be a constant deep ache, a sharp localised pain, or a burning, electric, neuropathic pain when nerves are involved. Many patients have more than one type at once, which is why a careful assessment matters before we choose a treatment.

No one with cancer should accept severe pain as unavoidable. With the right plan, the large majority of cancer pain can be brought under good control, and controlling it improves sleep, appetite, mood, and the ability to spend meaningful time with family.

Symptoms

• Constant or activity-related pain at the site of the tumour
• Bone pain that is deep, aching, and worse with movement or pressure
• Burning, shooting, or electric nerve pain in a limb or region
• Pain that disturbs sleep and reduces appetite
• Breakthrough pain that spikes despite regular medication
• Pain that limits walking, sitting, or daily activities

How We Treat It

We start with a structured medication plan built around the severity and type of your pain, adjusted closely as your needs change. When medication alone is not enough, or its side effects become limiting, interventional procedures can make a decisive difference. Nerve blocks interrupt the pain signal at its source, and neurolytic blocks can give lasting relief for well-localised cancer pain.

For pain driven by specific nerves or joints, radiofrequency ablation can reduce the signal for an extended period. We deliver this care as part of a palliative approach that treats comfort and quality of life as the priority, working alongside your oncology team at every step.