The responsibility to provide good pain control is clear. Doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and people with cancer pain are partners in controlling cancer pain. People with cancer do not have to be in severe pain. People with cancer pain have the right to have pain treated aggressively. Relieving cancer pain is the responsibility of every person caring for people with cancer.
Unrelieved pain increases suffering and the burden of having cancer.
Failing to treat cancer pain is not acceptable medical or nursing practice. But still, many people remain in pain needlessly. You have the right to have pain relieved by health professionals, family, friends and others around you. Your comfort is an important part of health. Pain relief should be treated as a priority.