The short answer
Having cancer doesn't mean you'll have pain, but if you do, it can usually be controlled with medicine and non-drug approaches. Pain may come from the cancer or from treatment. Your doctor builds a pain control plan that's unique to you. Describing your pain clearly and reporting how the plan is working are key to relief.
Having cancer doesn't mean you'll have pain, but if you do, it can usually be controlled.
Pain may be caused by the cancer itself, by treatments and tests, or by treatment side effects.
Your doctor develops a pain control plan that is unique to you.
Don't wait until pain gets bad—the best way to control it is to stop it from starting or getting worse.
Choose how you want to understand this
The full explanation.
Speak up early
Contact your doctor or nurse if you feel new pain, if pain is not decreasing with medicine, or if you have side effects from the medicine.
Controlling pain is an important part of your cancer treatment plan. Treating pain effectively can improve your mood, help you sleep better, and give you energy. Trying to just "deal with" pain can make it harder to control later. It helps to speak up.
The simple version
Having cancer does not mean you will have pain. But if you do, pain can usually be controlled with pain medicine and non-drug approaches. Pain may be caused by the cancer or by cancer treatment.
Types and causes of pain
People with cancer may have different types of pain.
- Acute pain may feel sharp, come on quickly, and last only a short time.
- Breakthrough pain comes on suddenly, even while you are taking medicine for chronic pain, and usually lasts a short time.
- Chronic pain, also called persistent pain, usually lasts more than three months. It may be mild or severe, and may come and go or be constant.
Pain can come from the cancer itself. For example, a tumor may press on nerves or other parts of the body. Some treatments or tests, such as surgery, cause pain. Pain can also be a side effect of treatment, such as mouth sores, nerve problems, or skin reactions.
Building a pain control plan
Your doctor will build a plan to control your pain based on your description of it, your symptoms, a physical exam, and sometimes imaging tests. Some hospitals have pain specialists who work as a team. This may include a palliative care specialist, nurse, pharmacist, and others.
Describing your pain clearly helps your team treat it. Be as specific as you can. Your team may ask where the pain is, what it feels like (sharp, burning, shooting, or throbbing), whether it is constant or comes and goes, when it starts and how long it lasts, and how bad it is on a scale of 1 to 10. It also helps to note what makes it better or worse, and whether it affects eating, sleeping, or daily activities. Some people track this in a notebook or a phone app.
Taking pain medicine
Different types of pain medicine, also called painkillers, pain relievers, or analgesics, are used to control pain.
- Over-the-counter medicines such as aspirin, acetaminophen, ibuprofen, or naproxen.
- Prescription medicines such as antidepressants, antiseizure medicines, muscle relaxants, or steroids.
- Opioids, also called narcotics, for moderate to severe cancer pain.
Take the prescribed amount at the scheduled time. Do not wait until your pain gets bad. Waiting can make it take longer to go away. Tell your doctor if the medicine is not working. Never stop taking it without talking to your doctor first, since stopping suddenly could cause withdrawal.
Common side effects of pain medicine include constipation, drowsiness, and nausea or vomiting. Some may fade as your body adjusts.
Tolerance, dependence, and addiction
It is common to worry about becoming addicted to pain medicine. It helps to understand three different things.
- Drug tolerance happens when your body gets used to a medicine and it works less well. Your doctor may adjust the dose or switch medicines.
- Physical dependence means the body gets used to a certain level of medicine and has symptoms if it is suddenly stopped. This can happen even when a drug is taken as instructed.
- Addiction involves compulsive drug seeking and being unable to stop despite harmful consequences.
Needing a higher dose, or having symptoms when a dose is lowered, is not the same as addiction. Your doctor carefully prescribes and monitors your medicine. Most people with cancer who take strong pain medicine use it safely and effectively.
Non-drug approaches
In addition to medicine, your team may suggest complementary and integrative practices, sometimes called natural pain relief.
- Acupuncture. Inserting very thin needles into specific points on the body.
- Biofeedback. Learning to control functions like heartbeat and muscle tension.
- Distraction. Shifting attention away from pain, such as with music or a movie.
- Guided imagery. Focusing on positive scenes or experiences.
- Hypnosis. A deeply relaxed, trance-like state.
- Meditation. Relaxing the mind and body to improve well-being.
Ask your health care team which of these options might be best for you.
Sources
Words to know
Tap any term to see what it means.
Common questions
Does having cancer mean I will have pain?
No. Having cancer doesn't mean that you'll have pain. But if you do, pain can usually be controlled with pain medicine and non-drug approaches. Pain may be caused by the cancer or by cancer treatment.
Why does my doctor want me to take pain medicine on a schedule?
Don't wait until your pain gets bad before taking medicine. If you wait, the pain may take longer to go away, or you may need more medicine. The best way to control pain is to stop it from starting or keep it from getting worse.
Should I worry about becoming addicted to pain medicine?
It's common to worry about this. Know that needing a higher dose, or having symptoms when a dose is decreased, is not the same as addiction. Your doctor carefully prescribes and monitors your medicine. Most people with cancer who take strong pain medicine, such as opioids, use them safely and effectively.
What's the difference between tolerance, dependence, and addiction?
Drug tolerance is when your body gets used to a medicine and it works less well. Physical dependence is when stopping a drug suddenly causes unpleasant symptoms. Addiction involves compulsive drug seeking and inability to stop despite harm. Tolerance and dependence are not the same as addiction.
Can anything besides medicine help my pain?
Yes. Complementary and integrative approaches such as acupuncture, biofeedback, distraction, guided imagery, hypnosis, and meditation may help relieve pain alongside medicine. Ask your health care team which options are best for you.
When should I call my doctor about pain?
Contact your doctor or nurse if you feel new pain, if your pain isn't decreasing with medicine, or if you have side effects from the medicine. Pain is not something you have to 'put up with.'
Questions to ask your doctor
Being prepared helps you get the most out of your appointments. Save or print these questions.
Tap a question to save it to your list (kept on this device).
Your next step
What needs a call today, what needs an emergency room, and what can wait.
Speak With Trained Specialists & Human Navigators
Cancer Explained provides educational guidance, but does not replace trained specialists, social workers, or your medical team.
Talk to a trained cancer information specialist
Free, confidential assistance from NCI Cancer Information Service via phone, chat, or email.
Contact your oncology team
Locate after-hours contact numbers, portal messages, or urgent triage phone lines.
Find a patient navigator
Get one-on-one help with appointments, logistics, translation, and care coordination.
Find a genetic counselor
Discuss inherited mutation risk, family history, and genetic testing options.
Find an oncology social worker
Access emotional counseling, family support groups, and mental health resources.
Find a financial navigator
Locate copay assistance foundations, grant programs, and lodging/travel support.
Find a clinical-trial specialist
Search matching studies and speak with NCI trial information specialists.
Get urgent help
Immediate emergency guidance for fever (>100.4°F during chemo), severe pain, or shortness of breath.
Help Us Improve This Guide
Did this explanation answer your question and help you determine your next step?
Know someone who needs this?
Plenty of people are looking for something like this and do not know where to start. If this would help a friend or someone you love, send it on — we have written an opening line so you do not have to stare at an empty message. You can change every word of it.
Your message is written and sent in your own email or messaging app — we never see who you send it to, and nothing is added to any list.
Knowledge Check
0 of 5 answered
This self-assessment checks understanding of educational content only. It is not medical advice.
Plain-language explanation of the published sources cited on this page. AI-assisted, source-checked, not clinician-reviewed.
Last updated: 2026-08-18Next planned review: 2027-02-03
How this page was created
Cancer Explained does not originate medical claims. Every page restates guidance already published by the National Cancer Institute, the CDC, the USPSTF and the FDA, in plain language, with the source cited so you can check the original yourself. AI does the translating and organizing; automated checks test claims, citations, clarity and safety before anything publishes. We do not employ clinicians and do not intend to — our work is translation and navigation, not clinical judgment. Nothing here is personal medical advice, and no page can account for your particular situation.
Editorial status — Source checked. This page was written with AI assistance and checked line by line against the sources listed on it. That confirms the sources support what the page says. It is not a medical review, and it does not confirm the page is complete or right for your situation.
General education — varies by person. Answers genuinely differ between people. This page explains what commonly varies and points you to your care team for your situation.
Human medical review: not completed. Pages here are not signed off by a clinician before they publish. That is not an oversight we are quietly working around: we restate published guidance and cite it, so the authority belongs to the source rather than to us, and every page names where its claims come from — you can verify us instead of trusting us. Where a volunteer clinician has reviewed a page, their name and credentials appear on it; where no name appears, no clinician has checked it. We are glad to have reviewers and are recruiting them, and we do not hold pages back waiting for one. Use this site to understand your situation and to ask better questions of the people treating you.
How this page was created
Cancer Explained does not originate medical claims. Every page restates guidance already published by the National Cancer Institute, the CDC, the USPSTF and the FDA, in plain language, with the source cited so you can check the original yourself. AI does the translating and organizing; automated checks test claims, citations, clarity and safety before anything publishes. We do not employ clinicians and do not intend to — our work is translation and navigation, not clinical judgment. Nothing here is personal medical advice, and no page can account for your particular situation.
Editorial status: Source checked — This page was written with AI assistance and checked line by line against the sources listed on it. That confirms the sources support what the page says. It is not a medical review, and it does not confirm the page is complete or right for your situation.
Human medical review: not completed. Pages here are not signed off by a clinician before they publish. That is not an oversight we are quietly working around: we restate published guidance and cite it, so the authority belongs to the source rather than to us, and every page names where its claims come from — you can verify us instead of trusting us. Where a volunteer clinician has reviewed a page, their name and credentials appear on it; where no name appears, no clinician has checked it. We are glad to have reviewers and are recruiting them, and we do not hold pages back waiting for one. Use this site to understand your situation and to ask better questions of the people treating you.
Read more about our editorial process, our use of AI, and our corrections policy.
Spotted a problem? Report an error — a factual mistake, broken or outdated source, confusing wording, or anything that seems unsafe. Please do not include names, medical record numbers, dates of birth, addresses, or other identifying medical information in your report.
After using this page, do you understand what to do next?
Anonymous — we only record the answer, never who gave it.
Related articles
Still have questions?
Educational answers, plain language
Free to print and share