• Pain patches, which are placed on
the skin like Band-Aids ® and release
medication at a controlled rate
• Bedside or portable pumps, which
release pain medications into the
bloodstream or fatty tissue at a
controlled rate
Your nurse or doctor will ask you
questions about your pain to help make
sure the medications are working. You
will be asked to rate the pain on a scale
of zero (0) to ten (10). Zero means you
have no pain, ten means you have the
worst possible pain. The nurse will also
ask you what level of pain is okay for
you to still feel comfortable.
Pain
Pain is the body’s way of sending the
message that something needs help.
Cancer-related pain can be acute (sudden
and sharp) or chronic (steady and lasts
for a long period of time). Cancer pain
may occur for several reasons:
• A tumor pressing against a nerve or
bone
• A tumor pressing against organs
• Nerve and tissue damage because of
surgery, radiation, or chemotherapy
All cancer pain is treatable. The fi rst step
toward relief is talking with your doctor.
When pain is managed, you will feel
better and have more energy for your
treatments and your daily work and
pleasures.
The goal of pain treatment is to help you
have little or no pain throughout your
treatment.
Many medications are used to treat
cancer-related pain. The medication the
doctor prescribes is based on your type
of pain. You may be given:
• Anti-infl ammatory medications such as
ibuprofen to help with swelling and
soreness
• Narcotic medications such as
morphine-based pills or liquids
Pain Scale
What to Say about Your Pain
When asked about your pain, it is helpful
to include:
• Your rating between 0 and 10
• Where the pain is
• How it feels — sharp, burning,
aching, throbbing, tingling, or
stabbing
• What seems to make the pain better
and what seems to make it worse
• Whether the pain goes to other parts
of your body
No Pain
Worst Pain
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