Cancer pain is a very common problem. Currently, 30% to 70% of cancer patients around the world suffer from different degrees of pain, and the incidence of pain is even higher in advanced cancer patients. In China, recent surveys show that more than 50% of cancer patients suffer from pain. Therefore, effectively relieving pain for these patients is an important issue for both the patients and their families. Three-step pain relief The first step Patient performance: pain is tolerable, does not affect normal life, and basically does not affect sleep. Such pain is mild cancer pain. The pain-relieving drugs used for mild cancer pain are first-stage drugs. Commonly used drugs: non-steroidal anti-inflammatory and analgesic drugs, such as aspirin, paracetamol, plus Hypericum, ibuprofen, anti-inflammatory pain, indomethacin and so on. Second stage Patient performance: When the pain persists and interferes with sleep and appetite, it is upgraded to moderate pain. At this time, in addition to the application of the first ladder of drugs, should be added to the second ladder of painkillers. Commonly used drugs: codeine, prednisolone, tramadol, bicuculline and so on. Third-stage manifestation: the cancer pain is so severe and unbearable that sleep and diet are seriously disturbed, and it is difficult to fall asleep at night and the pain is aggravated. At this time, general analgesic drugs are basically unable to control the pain, and other analgesic drugs or weak opioids cannot achieve satisfactory analgesic effect, and then strong opioids of the third ladder should be used. Commonly used drugs: morphine tablets, Mephicam, Mescaline, etc. Precautions Pay attention to the timing of taking the drug to take the drug should be used continuously in the early stage of pain, do not wait until the onset of pain when the pain is intense, or do not wait for the drug to take on the next take. Short-acting drugs should be taken on time aspirin, paracetamol, ibuprofen, codeine, prednisolone, tramadol, morphine tablets and so on are short-acting, usually 3 to 4 hours to take a drug. Long-acting drugs are used once every 12 hours. In recent years, the application of slow-release or controlled-release technology can make the active ingredients of the drugs released slowly, and the efficacy is longer. For example, the first stage of fenbendazole and Istin, the second stage of chimandine and bicuculline, and the third stage of mefenacam and mesocamptothecin, etc., the effect time of these medicines can be maintained for about 12 hours in general. Emphasis on auxiliary drugs Most of the cancer patients suffer from cancer pain for a long time, and many of them are struck mentally, eventually accompanied by mental symptoms such as depression, anxiety and irritability, which are either mild or serious. Taking Valium, Sulodexide, Amitriptyline, Doxepin, Prozac, etc. orally at the same time of pain relief has the effect of calming and improving the mood, and it can also reduce the dosage of pain relieving drugs and regulate the patient’s mental state, improve sleep and enhance the quality of life. In addition, since most of the pain medications have side effects such as stimulation of gastrointestinal mucosa, inhibition of gastrointestinal peristalsis, and dryness of stools, it is also beneficial to add some gastric mucosal protectants, gastrointestinal power medications, and laxative and diaphoretic medications into the process of application. Therefore, at the beginning of cancer pain relief treatment, the role of auxiliary drugs should be emphasized, and they can be listed as regular drugs, so that patients can smoothly accept and complete the “three-step” treatment. Getting rid of misunderstanding ● Morphine is addictive to pain relief. For cancer patients, the key issue is not whether they can become addicted to morphine, but whether it can effectively relieve pain and improve their quality of life. And in fact, due to the pain, cancer patients do not experience euphoria during the application of morphine. Therefore, morphine is now classified as a regular pain medication. It should be pointed out that, as morphine drugs do have certain tolerance phenomenon, sometimes it is necessary to increase the dosage in order to achieve the desired pain-relieving effect. ● From the first to the third step, the effect of the drug becomes stronger and stronger. Once you have used a higher step pain medication, you can no longer use a lower step medication. Correct point of view, the mechanism of action of each ladder of drugs is different, and the high ladder drugs can not block all the pathways of pain caused by the tumor, so the second, first ladder or third, first ladder of drugs often need to be used in combination in order to play the proper role.