Research Progress of Traditional Chinese Medicine External Treatment for Cancer Pain

Cancer pain, as a common complication in patients with malignant tumors, is regarded as the fifth vital sign. The involvement of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) in the treatment of malignant tumors has become a distinctive feature of oncology treatment in China. It is also an important component of cancer pain management. TCM analgesic treatments include various methods, such as internal medicine and external therapies. External analgesic therapies, in particular, are significant methods in TCM pain management and offer both local treatment and systemic regulation. These methods are simple, easy to perform, and non-invasive. They can enhance pain relief effects while reducing the difficulty of oral medication intake and avoiding adverse gastrointestinal reactions, providing new perspectives and approaches for cancer pain treatment with broad development prospects. This article provides a review of the external TCM therapies for cancer pain to share with peers in the field.