Cancer pain is common; more than 50 per cent of people with cancer experience pain. Pain associated with cancer is complex and can result from the cancer itself or its treatment. Untreated cancer pain can affect a person’s physical and mental wellbeing, impacting day to day activities and relationships with family and friends.

Prof Melanie Lovell, founding Chair of the Australian Cancer Pain Management Guideline Working Party and co-author of The Cancer Pain Book, said cancer pain is becoming an increasing challenge as the population ages.

“Thanks to improvements in cancer treatment, people are living longer with cancer, and are often undergoing treatment for longer. This results in more people living with cancer pain,” she said. 

Prof Melanie Lovell advocates for an integrated approach to the treatment of cancer pain that encompasses both pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions. Non-pharmacological strategies are safe and effective, although there is a nationwide lack of access for patients to non-pharmacological treatments. 

Comprehensive insights in The Cancer Pain Book

Prof Melanie Lovell and her co-authors have contributed significantly to cancer pain management through The Cancer Pain Book. This resource offers comprehensive insights into understanding and managing cancer pain. It serves as a guide for individuals and carers navigating the challenges of cancer pain. 

Across the eight chapters of The Cancer Pain Book, clinicians with more than 85 years combined experience in pain management explain what cancer pain is and where it can come from, how it can be experienced, and the many challenges associated with cancer pain. Critically, the book also provides proven and practical insights into what you can do to help ease pain.

The Cancer Pain App: A practical solution

In response to the nationwide lack of access to non-pharmacological treatments and developed to accompany The Cancer Pain Book, The Cancer Pain App is a valuable tool and resource. This free app offers users a repository of evidence-based strategies to alleviate cancer pain. From exercises to mindfulness and relaxation techniques, the app empowers individuals to manage pain effectively, anywhere and anytime.

Meditations based on evidence were written and recorded by Dr Skye Dong, including breathing techniques; relaxation; guided imagery; desensitisation; body scan; sitting with sounds, thoughts, feelings, and sensations; compassion, kindness and gratitude; and mindfulness meditations for intense pain. Exercises including stretching and resistance training based on the Cancer Council’s recommendations and tai chi were demonstrated and filmed. The App was released in 2022.

Dr. Skye Dong has written evidence-based modules such as guided imagery, relaxation, breathing techniques, body scan, and mindfulness meditations specifically tailored for intense pain situations. The app, released in 2022, also includes exercises such as stretching and resistance training, based on the Cancer Council’s recommendations, as well as demonstrations of tai chi, are featured.

Feedback on the Cancer Pain App has been positive, with users reporting significant benefits. One notable case involves a patient with metastases in the sacral spine who, after using the app, experienced relief from pain and reduced reliance on morphine. The app has been utilized over 5,000 times in Australia, the UK, and the USA, indicating its feasibility and acceptability on an international scale.

The Cancer Pain App is routinely provided to individuals with cancer-related pain in HammondCare services, and it has shown promising results in improving user outcomes. While the app's feasibility and acceptability have been demonstrated, a formal evaluation is suggested to assess its benefits in symptom relief compared to other strategies.