Not everyone with cancer has pain. And, those who do have pain from cancer don't always have pain. Their pain may be only temporary and may improve with treatment, healing, and time. But if pain persists, it's important to realize that it can be relieved. Most of the pain of cancer is from the cancer itself as it pushes on bone or other organs or nerves.
Cancer treatments themselves can cause pain.
No matter what the cause, the pain associated with cancer can be relieved. Since there are no lab tests or x-rays that can measure pain, you must tell your doctor and nurse how the pain is affecting your life and whether you're getting adequate pain relief from the medicines you are taking. To begin describing your pain, explain to your doctor and nurse how it is affecting your everyday life. Tell them what the pain feels like, where it is located, and how it changes over time. These may not be completely successful in relieving pain, however.