Different health professionals work together to help manage your pain. Some of these professionals are listed below.
They will often discuss treatment options at a multidisciplinary team (MDT) meeting. If your pain is not well controlled, you may want to ask your GP or palliative care specialist for a referral to a pain medicine specialist who is experienced in cancer pain and part of a multidisciplinary pain clinic.
Listen to our podcast on Managing Cancer Pain
Health professionals you may see
| general practitioner (GP) | assists with treatment decisions; provides ongoing care in partnership with specialists |
| surgeon | surgically removes tumours from the body |
| radiation oncologist | treats cancer by prescribing and overseeing a course of radiation therapy |
|
medical oncologist |
treats cancer with drug therapies such as chemotherapy, targeted therapy and immunotherapy (systemic treatment) |
| palliative care specialist | treats pain and other symptoms to maximise wellbeing and improve quality of life |
| pain medicine specialist | treats all types of pain, particularly acute pain during active treatment, ongoing pain after treatment, or pain that is difficult to control |
| nurse | administers drugs and provides care, information and support |
| nurse practitioner | works in an advanced nursing role; may prescribe some medicines and tests |
| pharmacist | dispenses medicines and gives advice about dosage and side effects |
| physiotherapist | helps with restoring movement and mobility, and preventing further injury |
|
psychologist |
helps you identify the thoughts, emotions and behaviours that affect your pain; provides psychological methods of pain management |
| counsellor, social worker | help you with emotional, practical or financial issues |
More resources
Dr Melanie Lovell, Clinical Ass Prof, Medicine, Northern Clinical School, Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney, and Palliative Medicine Consultant Physician, Greenwich Hospital, NSW; Nathaniel Alexander, 13 11 20 Consultant, Cancer Council NSW, NSW; Anne Booms, Palliative Care Nurse Practitioner, Canberra Hospital, ACT; Dr Roger Goucke, Consultant, Department of Pain Management, Specialist Pain Medicine Physician, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, and Clinical Ass Prof, School of Medicine and Pharmacology, University of Western Australia, WA; John Marane, Consumer; and Dr Jane Trinca, Director, Barbara Walker Centre for Pain Management, St Vincent’s Hospital, VIC.
View the Cancer Council NSW editorial policy.
Need to talk?
Support services
Coping with cancer?
Speak to a health professional or to someone who has been there, or find a support group or forum
Looking for transport, accommodation or home help?
Practical advice and support during and after treatment
Work and cancer
Information for employees, employers and workplaces dealing with cancer
Cancer information
What is cancer?
How cancer starts and spreads
Dealing with the diagnosis
Common reactions to a cancer diagnosis and how to find hope
View our publications
Guides and fact sheets for people with cancer, their families and friends
