This does not mean that the cancer is more serious, just that the pain is severe. Morphine is a commonly used painkiller as the dose can easily be adjusted as necessary, if the pain gets better or worse. These will also help to control your pain, but in a different way from your painkillers. Most people with cancer ask if they will get addicted to drugs such as morphine or become confused and unable to look after themselves. The dose you take will be carefully tailored to your own special needs and will only have to be increased if your pain gets worse.
Many people stay on the same dose of morphine for many months.
However, it is unwise to stop taking morphine suddenly. When you are taking painkillers always be sure to take them regularly as prescribed by your doctor. The aim is to make sure that the pain control is constant. Don't wait for your pain to come back before taking your painkiller or you may suffer unnecessarily while it is absorbed and starts to work. The dose of painkiller you are taking should be enough to control pain right through until the next dose.