Pain Management

The American Alliance of Cancer Pain Initiatives is dedicated to promoting cancer pain relief nationwide by supporting the efforts of State Cancer Pain Initiatives.  Cancer Pain Initiatives are voluntary, grassroots organizations composed of nurses, physicians, pharmacists, social workers, psychologists, and representatives of clergy, higher education, and government.  Initiatives and their participants provide education and advocacy to healthcare providers, cancer patients and their families.

The American Cancer Society is the nationwide community- based voluntary health organization dedicated to eliminating cancer as a major health problem by preventing cancer, saving lives, and diminishing suffering from cancer, through research, education, advocacy, and service.

Founded in 1997, the American Pain Foundation is an independent nonprofit 501(c)3 organization serving people with pain through information, advocacy, and support. Their mission is to improve the quality of life of people with pain by raising public awareness, providing practical information, promoting research, and advocating to remove barriers and increase access to effective pain management.

If English is not a patient's native tongue, one of the following 18 translations of the 0 to 10 numeric pain rating scale may be useful. Pain measurement tools can be accessed in multiple languages here at this site. Included here is a downloadable assessment form that doctors often use to help create a more complete picture of your pain, including questions regarding the effectiveness of pain medications you've taken, side effects of these medications, and the effect your pain has had on your mood, general activity, and other parts of your life. You might find it helpful to complete the form and take it along to your next doctor's visit.

A well-indexed comprehensive site on all related topics. Palliative Care section includes recommended books with order info, Guidelines/Clinical Practices, Educational Material/Curriculum, and Excellent Organization Links.

[Managing Pain]
Controlar su Dolor — Taking Control of Your Pain, Partners Against Pain

Each multilingual booklet has the English version on the left-hand page, and the other language on the facing page. These booklets were developed in an effort to provide culturally sensitive and linguistically appropriate resources for patients.

Developed by Boston Cancer Pain Education Program - Nursing Committee, Massachusetts Division of American Cancer Society (Grant from Purdue Pharma L.P.)

Obtain from: The American Cancer Society. No Fee.

[Comfort Evaluation]
"Diario de Evaluación de la Comodidad" – Socios contra el dolor. This spiral bound booklet is designed to help cancer patients describe the type and severity of their pain. Answers patients' common questions about pain medication and teaches them how to record pain ratings and other symptoms on a daily basis.

Obtain from: Iowa Cancer Pain Relief Initiative, c/o Rhana Kelderman. Tel: 515-253-0147; Fax: 515-253-0806. No fee.

The AGS Foundation for Health in Aging (FHA) strives to make trustworthy and practical health care information available to the public at no charge. Resources include

• Persistent Pain Management
• Eldercare at Home
• Patient Education Forums

The purpose of this website is to facilitate public access to information about pain relief and public policy, including material published by the PPSG and other authoritative sources.

Hospice strongly advocates good pain control for terminally ill patients, even to the point of using narcotic drugs (opiates) such as morphine as they are needed. With all the concern about drug abuse, patients and their families and friends sometimes question this use of narcotics. Are we pushing "dope"? Or are we practicing good medicine? This web page explores some of the myths about the use of narcotics for pain control.