Cancer-Related Pain

Cancer-related pain may arise from the cancer itself, including involvement of bone or internal organs, or from cancer treatment such as surgery, chemotherapy or radiotherapy. Pain may be nociceptive, neuropathic or mixed, and it can change as the disease and its treatment evolve.

Management should be integrated with oncology and palliative care where appropriate. Treatment may include disease-directed therapy, analgesic and adjuvant medicines, radiotherapy or other procedures for specific pain generators, and interventional pain techniques in selected patients. The goals are to relieve suffering, preserve function and support quality of life.