The cancer charity Cancer BACUP has launched a national campaign to inform patients about treatments available to ease pain.
"Freedom from pain" was set up after the charity conducted a survey of 157 cancer patients and found that 69 per cent were in pain, 64 per cent suffered side effects from their medication and fewer than 10 per cent had been given written information about analgesia.
The charity became concerned that quality of life issues were not being fully addressed and that people with cancer were not being involved in decisions made about their analgesia.
Fact sheets and resource packs for pharmacists, hospital and general practitioners, nurses and patients that provide information on pain management were circulated by the charity on November 21.