International Journal of Hematology and Oncology
2023, Vol 33, Num 4 Page(s): 045-055
MANAGEMENT OF CANCER PAIN
UĞUR COŞKUN1, ZÜBEYDE NUR ÖZKURT1, NAZAN GÜNEL1
Gazi Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi Medikal Onkoloji Bilim Dalı, ANKARA
Keywords: cancer pain, pathophysiology, management
Pain as a complication of cancer is a common and challenging clinical problem. Pain occurs in more than 80% of cancer patients before death. Most cancer pain is caused by direct tumor infiltration; approximately 20% of cancer pain may be attributed to the effects of surgery, radiotherapy or chemotherapy. The use of primary therapies for tumor and systemically administered nonopioid and opioid analgesics are pivotal to cancer pain management. Cancer pain can be successfully managed with oral or paranteral narcotics in 80% of patients. For patients whom drug therapy has not been successful, local anesthetic, neurolytic block therapy and more invasive drug delivery systems should be considered. An individualized treatment approach, including application of different treatment modalities chosen for the individual pain types, is necessary in order to obtain satisfactory pain relief. This review discusses the diagnosis, assessment and management of cancer pain.
UĞUR COŞKUN1, ZÜBEYDE NUR ÖZKURT1, NAZAN GÜNEL1
Gazi Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi Medikal Onkoloji Bilim Dalı, ANKARA
Keywords: cancer pain, pathophysiology, management
Pain as a complication of cancer is a common and challenging clinical problem. Pain occurs in more than 80% of cancer patients before death. Most cancer pain is caused by direct tumor infiltration; approximately 20% of cancer pain may be attributed to the effects of surgery, radiotherapy or chemotherapy. The use of primary therapies for tumor and systemically administered nonopioid and opioid analgesics are pivotal to cancer pain management. Cancer pain can be successfully managed with oral or paranteral narcotics in 80% of patients. For patients whom drug therapy has not been successful, local anesthetic, neurolytic block therapy and more invasive drug delivery systems should be considered. An individualized treatment approach, including application of different treatment modalities chosen for the individual pain types, is necessary in order to obtain satisfactory pain relief. This review discusses the diagnosis, assessment and management of cancer pain.