One of the most persistent and difficult clinical problems is the undertreatment of pain. Pain management is of particular concern with cancer patients. It is possible that the healing process is lessened because a patient wracked with pain is less likely to fight the disease. Impaired function and lessened quality of life are additional problems when pain is not controlled. Patients in minority groups and elderly patients are at an increased risk of inadequate pain management.
Several factors contribute to the inadequate use of pain medication for cancer patients.
These factors include inadequate training for professionals and the ability of the patient to report pain and complain if necessary. Health professionals often do not notice the signs of pain in patients. In order to adequately manage pain in elderly cancer patients, there needs to be a different mindset among practitioners and patients. While patients do not die from pain, untreated pain often leads to worse pain. Patients' report of pain is subjective but can be helped by the use of pain scales.