A Mayo Clinic College of Medicine study finds more than 20 percent of cancer patients in chronic pain do not ask for pain medicine or help with pain management. The researchers, who refer to these patients as "silent sufferers," admit they do not report pain to their physician. Researchers of this study say that the reasons for not seeking pain relief are unclear, but speculate some of the reasons may be poor previous experiences with pain care, perceived lack of effective treatments, and barriers to health care from a lack of medical insurance. 

As a cancer survivor with long-term chronic pain issues, I can share a perspective and experience not clearly stated in this study, that other cancer patients with chronic pain know all too well, when seeking pain relief from physicians. There are no easy answers when it comes to pain management. The most effective pain management relief comes from the prescription of narcotic medication. Regular use of narcotic medication to relieve pain may lead to drug dependence. Narcotic pain medication is heavily monitored by the DEA, and many physicians are reluctant to draw attention to their practice by prescribing narcotic pain medication. My guess is that the 20 percent of cancer patients with chronic pain gave up, somewhere in the process, after being put in a position of being made to feel like a drug addict, or having to fight for effective medical care for a real medical condition. The pain becomes easier to deal with, than the ordeal of trying to get help for pain relief.