Understanding of Cancer Related Pain : A Continuous Education Review

Optimal pain management requires a systematic symptom assessment and appropriate management to promote quality of life. Inadequate management of pain is the result of various issues that include: under treatment by clinicians with insufficient knowledge of pain assessment and therapy; inappropriate concerns about opioid side effects and addiction; a tendency to give lower priority to symptom control than to disease management; patients under-reporting of pain and non-compliance with therapy. Thus, this paper will elaborate on all the above aspects, including the pathophysiology of pain, assessment and management of cancer pain; to understand the clinical approach used in managing cancer related pain. Cancer related pain remains the big problem now facing cancer patients, their family and oncology nurse specialists because of poor understanding, identification, assessment, and management. Despite the wide range of available pain management therapies, unfortunately, pain associated with cancer is frequently undertreated. This paper may help nurses and post graduate oncology students in understanding the issue of cancer pain; in assessment, planning, and management of cancer related pain with consideration to all aspects of cancer pain in a comprehensive and systematic approach.