Get Rid of Pain During Chemo Treatment

If you find that you are in pain during chemotherapy treatment, don't put up with it.

There are many medicines to help lower or get rid of pain.

Talk with your doctor to learn about medicine that can help you.

Ask what other things, like massage or acupuncture, could also help. Remember, being in less pain will help you feel stronger and better.

Call the doctor or nurse if:

•     The pain isn't getting better or going away

•     The pain comes on quickly

•     The pain makes it hard to eat, sleep, work, or play

•     You feel new pain

•     The pain medicine is not working as fast or for as long as it used to

Tips to get the most out of your pain medicine:

•     Ask how much pain medicine to take. Take the right amount of medicine each time you are supposed to.

•     Ask when to take the pain medicine. Take the pain medicine on time. If you take the pain medicine too late, it may not work as well.

•     Tell your doctor or nurse if the pain does not go away after you take the medicine.

•     Tell your doctor or nurse if you are in pain, but it's not yet time to take the pain medicine.

•     Don't stop taking the pain medicine unless your doctor tells you to.

•     Talk with your doctor, nurse, or social worker if you need help to pay for pain medicine.

Give your doctor or nurse a list of all of the medicines you are taking.

Keep track of the pain.

Each day, write about any pain you feel. This will help you talk with your doctor or nurse. Use a notebook or separate piece of paper to fill in the information below.

1.     The pain is dull, sharp, burning, shooting, throbbing, or:


(Add your own words if these don't describe the pain you feel.)

2.     On a scale of 1 to 10, where "10" is the most pain and "1" is the least pain, I feel this much pain:



3.     I feel the most pain when:



4.     Things I can't do because of the pain:



5.     This makes the pain feel worse:



6.     This makes the pain feel better:



Tell your doctor or nurse if you:

•     Feel sick to your stomach

•     Feel sleepy

•     Have constipation or dry stools

If these problems don't go away on their own after a few days, they can usually be treated.

You may need more or different pain medicine.

It is normal for your body to get used to the pain medicine. It may not work as well as it did at first. This is called "tolerance." It happens to many people. If this happens to you, your doctor may change your pain medicine or change the way you take it.

You will not get addicted when cancer pain medicines are given and taken in the right way. Don't be afraid to ask for more pain medicine if you're still in pain.

When it is time to stop taking pain medicine, your doctor will have you take a little less pain medicine each day. This will help your body get used to the change.

By National Institutes of Health

The National Institutes of Health, a part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, is the nation's medical research agency — making important discoveries that improve health and save lives. NIH is the largest single source of financing for medical research in the world, seeking new ways to cure disease, alleviate suffering and prevent illness. By providing the evidence base for health decisions by individuals and their clinicians, NIH is empowering Americans to embrace healthy living through informed decision-making. NIH is made up of 27 institutes and centers, each with a specific research agenda, focusing on stages of life, like aging or child health, or particular diseases or body systems.