Pain is part of cancer and does not have to be tolerated. Controlling pain is also an aspect of treatment. When the pain comes on, it can affect your sleep, your appetite, your daily routine, and your mood. You are the only one who can feel cancer pain in your body, so you need to understand it so that you know how to get the treatment you need. Causes of cancer pain There are many causes of cancer pain, the most common being caused by the cancer itself. As the cancer grows and invades the surrounding tissues, it may cause pain in those areas. As tumors grow, they may also compress bones, nerves, and surrounding organs to produce painful sensations. Certain cancer-related tests, treatments and procedures may also cause pain and discomfort. In some cases, pain that is not related to cancer, such as normal headaches and muscle tightness, may also occur. Types of cancer pain Everyone’s pain is different, and cancer pain also depends on the type and stage of the cancer and how well it is tolerated. Most people can be classified in three ways: Acute pain: It is like being punched in the face, it hurts at first and then slowly subsides. Acute pain is there to tell you that your body is hurt, but is slowly recovering on its own. Chronic pain: Chronic pain lasts for a long time and can be a vague discomfort or a sharp pain that interferes with normal life in many ways. Although it does not go away completely, it can be relieved with painkillers. Breakthrough pain: When you are using medication to treat chronic pain but still feel a bout of pain, this is called “breakthrough pain” because it can break through the effects of the medication. This type of pain usually occurs quickly, lasts a short time, and feels very intense.