Cancer Cancer can be very painful. Tumor growth, nerve damage, or treatments, such as surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation may cause pain. Even muscle aches and pains can develop when physical activity is limited for cancer patients.
Pain relief is called analgesia.
In most patients, cancer pain can be controlled safely and effectively. All cancer patients should expect good pain control as part of their care. Patients and their families need to learn how to participate in a pain management program. They might believe that pain is a symptom that their cancer is worsening. Pain control is also important in patients with stable disease.