علاج الألم السرطاني

Cancer pain treatment is the specialist control of pain caused by a tumour, by its spread to bone or nerves, or by cancer treatment itself. It is provided by palliative care and pain medicine teams working with your oncologist, and is appropriate at any stage of illness, not only near the end of life.

With a stepwise approach, pain can be brought to a tolerable level in the large majority of people. Complete freedom from pain is not always achievable, and some treatments trade pain relief against drowsiness, constipation or numbness.

Conditions this service looks after

• Bone pain from metastases
• Nerve pain from tumour pressure or invasion
• Visceral pain from the pancreas, liver or bowel
• Pain after cancer surgery, such as post-mastectomy or post-thoracotomy pain
• Peripheral neuropathy caused by chemotherapy
• Mouth and throat pain from mucositis during radiotherapy
• Breakthrough pain: short flares on top of controlled background pain
• Spinal cord compression, which is an emergency

Tests you may be offered

• Structured pain assessment: Site, character, intensity scores, triggers and the effect on sleep and function, repeated over time.
• Imaging: MRI, CT or bone scan to find the cause, such as a fracture or nerve compression that may be directly treatable.
• Medication and kidney function review: Checks interactions and organ function before opioids and adjuvant drugs.
• Diagnostic nerve block: A short-acting local anaesthetic injection to predict whether a longer-lasting block will help.

Treatments available

• Stepwise pain medicines: From paracetamol and anti-inflammatories to weak then strong opioids such as morphine, following the WHO analgesic ladder, with laxatives and anti-sickness drugs to manage side effects.
• Adjuvant medicines: Gabapentin, pregabalin, duloxetine or amitriptyline for nerve pain; steroids for swelling and pressure.
• Palliative radiotherapy: One to five sessions to a painful bone deposit relieve pain in most people within 2 to 4 weeks.
• Bone-strengthening drugs: Bisphosphonates or denosumab to reduce bone pain and fractures.
• Nerve blocks and neurolysis: For example coeliac plexus block for pancreatic cancer pain, done under imaging guidance.
• Spinal drug delivery: An intrathecal pump or epidural catheter for severe pain not controlled by tablets or patches.
• Vertebroplasty and surgical fixation: Cement or metalwork for painful or unstable bones.
• Psychological, physiotherapy and supportive care: Treat the fear, low mood and immobility that amplify pain.

When to ask for a specialist opinion

• Pain that persists in spite of regular painkillers
• Side effects from pain medicines that you cannot tolerate
• Nerve-type pain: burning, shooting or electric sensations
• Pain that stops you sleeping, moving or eating
• When you are told nothing more can be done for your pain, which is rarely true

Travelling to Türkiye for this care

Pain control is an ongoing process of adjusting doses, best managed by a team near where you live, and strong opioids are subject to strict rules on prescribing and on carrying them across borders. A visit may be reasonable for a one-off intervention such as a nerve block, vertebroplasty, a short palliative radiotherapy course or an implanted pump, provided your home team will manage refills and follow-up. People with severe uncontrolled pain or advanced illness are usually not well served by a long journey.

Send your reports, scans and a short history and a Clinic-Y coordinator replies within 24 hours with suitable teams and written, all-inclusive proposals side by side. Reviewing your case is free.

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