Unrelieved pain causes short concentration span, sleep disturbance, anxiety, depression, anger, isolation and even thoughts of suicide. Most cancer pain can be controlled with existing therapies.
Analgesics are the mainstay of cancer pain therapy.
Surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy are the first line treatments of cancer pain. A team effort is essential for effective management of cancer pain. The patient, family, doctor, nurse and pharmacist must all work together to develop the optimal pain management strategy. Addiction and tolerance are extremely rare when opiods are used to treat cancer pain.