OVER 75 percent of cancer patients die in pain and this is due to several factors— they do not consult their doctors when they are in pain; they are afraid to take their medication; or they lack awareness that their pain may be relieved.

"In the early stages of cancer, if the patient experiences pain, we may start giving medicines. Whatever the cause of the pain, be it in early or late stages, the pain may be relieved. It takes a team of health professionals with different specialties to help manage and control the pain. This includes a psychologist, counselor, and spiritual adviser that will look after the patient’s psychological well-being," said Dr. Jocelyn Que, head of the Pain Management Unit of the UST Hospital, in the 169th medical forum, "Understanding Cancer Pain" sponsored by the Tan Yan Kee Foundation and the Association of Asia Brewery Medical Scholars.

Studies, however, show that opioids, a derivative of morphine that is administered to relieve the pain of cancer patients, is used sparingly in the Philippines because some doctors don’t prescribe the addictive substance.

Que said that if patients fear cancer most, it is because of its association with poorly controlled-pain.

She said different people react differently to pain. "If you ask bone cancer patients, they will say they have the worst pain. If you ask patients who do not have bone cancer, they will also say they are experiencing the worst pain. Pain is a subjective sensation and it depends on each patient. I have seen bone cancer patients who experience pain but remain functional and those in extreme cases where patients cannot move at all. Still, there are cancer patients who die without any pain," she said.

Those who suffer "horrific" pain are those who become interested in euthanasia, or mercy killing, which is illegal here.