The choice of a drug is always dictated by the need of the individual patient. Such courses should not produce side-effects. The advice of a radiotherapist and oncologist or clinical oncologist should be sought. In addition, the following pains may respond to palliative radiotherapy pain due to local recurrence, e.g. in rectal cancer or other pelvic tumours pain due to Pancoast's tumour of the lung. Nerve blocks and other neurological procedures can be effective when opioids fail.
Physiotherapists can offer several useful treatments.
Complementary therapies may also have a role to play.