Palliative Care for a Cancer of Unknown Primary
Some cancers of unknown primary (CUP) can be treated effectively or even cured, but most are advanced cancers and treatments are unlikely to provide long-term benefits. It’s very important that people with advanced CUP are aware that even if the cancer can’t be cured, treatments are available to help prevent or relieve pain and other symptoms.
Many patients with CUP may benefit from palliative care as part of their treatment plan. Palliative care includes supportive care managed by your care team, such as relief from symptoms, pain, and stress. It’s meant to improve quality of life for patients and their families. Treatment to control the cancer may also be included in a supportive care plan. More information can be found in Advanced Cancer.
Palliative care for pain from cancers of unknown primary (CUP)
Pain is a significant concern for patients with CUP. There are proven ways to relieve pain due to CUP using a combination of medicines and, in some cases, surgical procedures. Patients should not hesitate to take advantage of these treatments. They must tell their doctors if they have pain. Otherwise, the doctor can’t help. For most patients, treatment with morphine or drugs related to it (called opioids) can reduce pain considerably while still allowing them to function well. For the treatment to be effective, pain medicines must be given regularly on a schedule, not just when the pain becomes severe. Several long-acting opioid drugs have been developed that need only to be given once or twice a day.
For more information on pain, what can be done about it, and how to keep track of it, see Cancer-related Pain .
More information about palliative care
To learn more about how palliative care can be used to help control or reduce symptoms caused by cancer, see Palliative Care.
To learn about some of the side effects of cancer or treatment and how to manage them, see Managing Cancer-related Side Effects.
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- References
Developed by the American Cancer Society medical and editorial content team with medical review and contribution by the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO).
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Varadhachary GR, Lenzi R, Raber MN, Abbruzzese JL. Carcinoma of Unknown Primary In: Neiderhuber JE, Armitage JO, Doroshow JH, Kastan MB, Tepper JE, eds. 础产别濒辞蹿蹿’蝉 Clinical Oncology. 5th ed. Philadelphia, PA. Elsevier: 2014:1792-1803.
Last Revised: May 27, 2025
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