i am interested in your question, horselady (and trying to ignore some answers).
My aunty died at 44 of cancer, about 35 years ago. She chose to die at home and the doctors told my mum there were some very strong drugs for her, towards the end, when the pain is unbearable.
Sadly her husband was a horrible man who, after letting my mum nurse her for weeks, refused to let any of her family visit at the end. (We found out he had another woman in the house)
My mum managed to get into the house the day before she died and refused to leave her bedside. When she died the next night, and the doctor finally came, he (the doctor) was very upset and asked why he hadn't been called? He said she must have suffered intolerably, and couldn't believe she hadn't had any morphine.
It is something my poor mum lives with daily. Wondering how much pain she was actually in.
My Aunty was a very good, kind, intelligent lady.