Abstract
Pain is one of the commonest symptoms in patients with cancer occurring in as many
as 90% of patients during their illness. Pain is a complex phenomenon, which can be
exacerbated by numerous other factors. This paper discusses the common strategies
for the management of cancer pain in general and also neuropathic cancer pain. Using
the World Health Organisation (WHO) analgesic ladder for cancer pain relief, 80% of
cancer pain can usually be controlled. It follows therefore that 20% of cancer pain
can be difficult to control. Neuropathic cancer pain is often in this category and
the use of adjuvant analgesics such as amitriptyline and gabapentin is important.
Optimum cancer pain control is achieved by integrating standard analgesic approaches
during tumouricidal therapy or any other active cancer treatment.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: April 28, 2008
Accepted:
March 11,
2008
Received:
March 10,
2008
Identification
Copyright
© 2008 Elsevier Ltd. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
