When background music is playing softly, it's possible to forget the music is continually playing. When it’s blaring, the music never fades into the background, and it’s intrusive all the time. You have a serious problem when your cancer-related symptoms are like blaring background music. Your pain or quality-of-life issues make life miserable every minute of every day. Here's a partial list of issues that cause unending misery in the life of someone with cancer: Chronic, ever-present pain Fatigue Hot flashes Bladder or bowel issues Sleeplessness Nausea or vomiting Poor or no appetite Debilitating weakness There are two types of relief to seek in the face of unending misery. The first is physical relief, and the second is psychological relief. The three crucial physical issues to address are: 1. Pain control  According to the Mayo Clinic, pain relief for cancer patients is possible. Pain relief does not necessarily mean you are pain-free. It means your pain may move from intolerable to tolerable. Make sure to discuss pain management with your physician. Ask for a referral if your pain goes unrelieved. 2. Nutrition  Adequate nutrition is essential for cancer patients. If treatment affected your appetite, ask for a consultation with a dietician. If possible, ask for a dietician with oncology certification. 3. Sleep  There are so many reasons why sleep becomes impossible. Anxiety before surgery, coming home with a catheter, pain, and a host of other reasons. "A good night's sleep may be a potent weapon against cancer," the Daily Mail reports, citing Professor David Spiegel from Stanford University. It's important to discuss any problems with sleep with your doctor. I asked for prescription medication to help me sle