Many studies have shown that cancer pain is often undertreated by oncologists and other medical specialists involved in cancer patients' care, even when these health care providers are extremely well intended. This may be due to a number of different factors. Patients may be reluctant to disclose the extent to which they are suffering from discomfort. Physicians may be so focused on the control of the disease itself, that they become less mindful of control of palliative factors such as pain or stress. And both patients and physicians may be reluctant to use strong analgesic medications for fear that the patient will develop an addiction even though scientific studies have shown that patients prescribed opiates for legitimate reasons such as pain control rarely develop addictions.

It is vitally important, however, for cancer patients to realize that not only do they have the right not to live in constant pain, but that constant pain can also have an effect on their ability to fight their disease as pain is often linked to fatigue and a lack of stamina. Cancer patients need to sit down with their cancer team to talk about pain relief and come up with an effective plan for pain management. If at all possible, other members of the patient's support system should also be present at this meeting. Many different types of pain medication are available and they all have different benefits and side effects. It is important to discuss the different types of medication that are available thoroughly with your physician so that you and your physician can come up with the analgesic treatment that is right for you.

During some stages of your cancer treatment you may require higher doses of pain medication than you will at other stages in your treatment. That is perfectly okay. As your underlying condition improves, you will be gradually weaned from your pain medication which will prevent you from suffering from any sort of withdrawal symptoms. In fact, many studies have found that patients who take opiates and other analgesic medications for pain control, rarely become addicted to them.

When you're in pain, you can't fight your cancer as effectively as you can when you're not in pain. Your sleep is interrupted, your appetite falls off, you become depressed -- all things that undermine your ability to recover. Cancer patients need good nutrition, plenty of rest and an upbeat, can do attitude. This can't be accomplished without proper pain control.