19/08/2026
Pain Management Is Part of Cancer Care✊️
As a patient living with cancer, I have learned that pain management is not a luxury—it is an essential part of care.
Pain can affect your sleep, your movement, your emotions, your appetite and your overall quality of life. Through my own journey, I have been exposed to different medicines and approaches that have helped me understand that managing pain is about finding the right combination and the right timing for YOUR body.
Every patient is different. Every diagnosis is different. Every pain experience is different.
It is important to speak openly with your healthcare team about your pain—from mild pain to severe pain—and ask about the options available to you. Do not simply accept that severe pain is something you must endure.
Pain medication must always be taken according to medical advice. It is not about taking more because the pain is worse or overdosing in desperation. It is about understanding your prescribed medication, when to take it, what to expect, and when to ask your doctor for another option.
I have also learned the importance of managing my pain throughout the course of the day, rather than waiting until it becomes unbearable. This means paying attention to my body, understanding when my pain starts increasing, planning activities around my pain levels and taking appropriate measures early, according to my medical plan.
There are also moments when I can support my body without medication, when appropriate for me. Gentle movement, exercise as tolerated, changing my environment, getting out of bed, resting properly, preparing my body before a shower, and managing my pain before bedtime can all make a difference.
Sometimes, stabilising the pain before an activity is better than waiting until the pain becomes unbearable.
And this education should not stop with the patient.
Families and caregivers also need to understand the difference between mild, moderate and severe pain, know the patient's medication plan, understand when medication should be given, and recognise when professional medical help is needed.
Whether you are receiving care in the private or public sector, advocate for yourself. Ask questions. Ask what other pain-management options are available. Tell your doctor honestly how the pain is affecting your daily life.
You deserve to be heard.
You deserve to understand your options.
And you deserve cancer care that looks beyond the diagnosis to the quality of life of the person living with it.
Pain management is patient-centred care.
Pain management is dignity.
Pain management is part of living with cancer.
Ney Ney
Global Cancer Advocate | Lived Cancer Experience | Warriors With A Purpose SA
