Secondary bone cancer is common with a kidney tumour, and like all bone cancers, can be very painful. Although people living with a cancer that's beyond cure often fear dying in agony, this is very rarely the case. There are many treatments for cancer pain, and no one should suffer.

Talk to the health professionals looking after your father. If necessary your GP should be able to refer your father to experts in pain relief at the hospital or hospice.

Painkilling medicines

There are a large variety of painkilling drugs that can be used in different ways, doses and in different combinations. Often the starting point is regular doses of mild analgesics such as paracetamol, progressing on to moderately powerful painkillers like codeine, and then to the most powerful opiate drugs such as morphine, diamorphine and fentanyl.

These may be given as tablets, syrups, long-acting tablets, suppositories, skin patches, injections or a continuous infusion under the skin.

Sometimes it takes a bit of tweaking to find the best treatment or the most appropriate dose, and this has to be adapted over time depending on the individual's needs. Addiction isn't an issue, even with strong opiate drugs, in these situations. Many people stay on the same dose of morphine for months.

Other drugs

As well as painkillers, muscle-relaxant drugs and anti-inflammatory drugs (such as ibuprofen) can all help to ease the discomfort in different ways. Anti-inflammatory drugs are often very effective in bone pain as they reduce inflammation and swelling.

Other drugs particularly useful in pain from secondary cancers in the bone are a group called the bisphosphonates, which slow the damage to the bone as it's destroyed by the cancer cells.

Antidepressants in a low dose can have a painkilling effect, as can some drugs usually used for convulsions. Steroids may increase appetite and make a person feel generally better, and sleeping pills can induce rest.

Non-drug methods of pain relief

There's quite a long list of non-drug treatments for pain, including:

• Radiotherapy: usually given in low doses this is especially good for relieving bone pain, but may take some days to take effect
• Bone cement treatments, known as cementoplaty: special cement can be put into areas of bone destroyed by a tumour (including the vertebral bones of the spine) to strengthen and support the remaining bone and relieve pain
• Acupuncture
• Nerve blocks
• Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS)
• Hypnotherapy and relaxation

Things family can do

There are also things you can do to make your father more comfortable.

• Help him to find a comfortable position
• Use a sheepskin to prevent sores
• Regularly tidy or change sheets and clothes
• Use pillows and supports - ask your district nurse or local surgery
• Apply hot and cold packs to ease aches
• Give a massage with aromatherapy oils (beware tender bones or areas where radiotherapy has been given)
• Keep him busy and entertained (don't overdo it)
• Try complementary therapies, such as visualisation and relaxation

This article was last medically reviewed by Dr Trisha Macnair in November 2007