Cancer pain

What is cancer pain?

If you have cancer that has invaded your tissues or nerves, it may damage the tissue, and cause this to release all kinds of substances that activate tiny receptors at the ends of the nerves, called nociceptors. The activated receptors send signals (electrical impulses) through the nerves to the spinal cord. From there they are passed on to the brain, giving you a sensation of pain.

Cancer pain (also known as oncological pain) involves nociceptive pain, the same type of pain that is caused by a sprained ankle. But since cancer can damage not only the tissues but also the nerves, it can also cause neuropathic pain in addition to the nociceptive pain.