Pain

Dear Dadhelp,

Thanks for getting in touch with us, and welcome to the online community. My name’s Ursula  and I’m one of the Cancer Information Nurse Specialists on the Macmillan support line.

I am sorry to read of your dad’s diagnosis of prostate cancer and that he has been experiencing uncontrolled pain. It’s understandable that you want to know more about this, and what can be done to help. As nurses on the support line, we do not have access to NHS medical records or information.  We are not able to say what is causing his pain. However, with any new, increasing, or worsening symptoms it is always important to report these to your dad’s GP, Specialist team, or NHS 111, and this should be done TODAY. This allows them to make a full assessment and decide if he requires medication or further investigations to manage these symptoms.

If your dad is receiving active treatment such as chemotherapy, immunotherapy, or targeted therapies, he should have been given a 24-hour emergency contact number for the treating hospital or chemotherapy unit. He can contact this number for further advice and support. If you do not have this number at hand, you can also call your hospital’s main switchboard which can put you through.

If pain is difficult to manage it may be worth asking your dad’s GP or specialist team if a referral to a palliative care team might be beneficial. Palliative care are experts in the management of complex, unresolved symptoms and can get involved at any stage of a person’s illness.

I do hope you find this information helpful, but please do not hesitate to get back in touch with us if you need any further support.

Best wishes,

Ursula, Cancer Information Nurse Specialist

You can also speak with the Macmillan Support Line team of experts. Phone free on 0808 808 0000 (7 days a week, 8am-8pm) or send us an email. 

Ref: UH/GMcR