How to care for pain in cancer patients
Nov 05, 2025
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Yang Ziqi
Introduction
Nursing methods for pain management in cancer patients generally include using analgesics as prescribed, adjusting to comfortable positions to relieve pressure, providing psychological counseling to reduce anxiety, creating a quiet and comfortable recuperation environment, and arranging a balanced diet to support recovery. According to the severity of pain, medications should be administered strictly according to the dosage and schedule prescribed by the doctor, without arbitrarily increasing, decreasing, or discontinuing the medication, while closely monitoring the patient's response after administration.
Tumor-related pain management in cancer patients generally includes the following approaches: using analgesics as prescribed, adjusting to comfortable positions to reduce pressure, providing psychological counseling to alleviate anxiety, creating a quiet and comfortable recuperation environment, and offering balanced diets to support physical recovery. The details are as follows:
1. Using analgesics as prescribed: Administer pain medication strictly according to the doctor’s instructions regarding dosage and timing. Do not arbitrarily increase or decrease the dose or discontinue medication. Monitor patient response after administration, and promptly report any adverse reactions such as nausea or dizziness to the physician, ensuring effective pain relief while minimizing side effects.
2. Adjusting to comfortable positions to reduce pressure: Assist patients in adjusting their lying or sitting positions to avoid pressure on painful areas. For example, if the tumor is located in the abdomen, slightly elevate the upper body; for bone involvement, use soft pillows for support. Comfortable positioning can relieve pain caused by local traction or compression and improve overall comfort.
3. Providing psychological counseling to alleviate anxiety: Communicate frequently with patients, listen to their feelings, and use techniques such as engaging in light conversation or playing soothing music to divert attention. This helps reduce anxiety and irritability caused by pain, enabling patients to cope with discomfort with a calmer mindset.
4. Creating a quiet and comfortable recuperation environment: Maintain a clean ward with soft lighting, keep indoor temperature and humidity at comfortable levels, and minimize noise disturbances—such as avoiding loud conversations and turning off noisy equipment. A peaceful environment reduces external stimuli that may heighten pain perception.
5. Offering balanced diets to support recovery: Prepare light, easily digestible, and nutritionally rich meals for patients, such as lean meat porridge, vegetable soup, and fruit puree. Avoid spicy or greasy foods that may加重 the body's burden. A well-balanced diet strengthens the patient’s physical condition and indirectly improves tolerance to pain.
Throughout the care process, closely monitor changes in the patient’s pain, documenting the timing, intensity, and relief status of pain episodes to provide valuable information for physicians when adjusting treatment plans.
