Managing Cancer Pain Pain is one of the greatest fears of cancer patients. Pain is one of the most common symptoms associated with cancer and remains one of the greatest fears of cancer patients. In the remaining patients, pain can usually be controlled by other means. In a small proportion of patients, pain during cancer comes from other conditions they may have, such as arthritis.
Physicians prescribe treatment for pain based on certain characteristics of an individual's pain.
The most important drugs for controlling cancer-related pain are opioids , which are narcotics such as morphine. Other drugs, referred to as adjuvant analgesics , also play an important role, either alone or when combined with an opioid in lower doses. Some adjuvant agents were developed for reasons other than pain relief but have been found to be effective at combating pain. Such pain relievers include anticonvulsants, antidepressants, steroids, and some other drugs. Corticosteroids help relieve pain caused by inflammation, bulky tumors, or tumors near nerves, and they may help reduce nausea and improve mood and appetite.