Cancer pain treatment

Author: Wang Ying (Main Translator)
Publisher:
Publish Date: 1997-08-01
Features: Over one million Americans are diagnosed with cancer each year, and one out of every five deaths in the United States is due to cancer, with approximately 1,400 people dying daily. Although there have been some advancements in understanding pain and pain management in recent years, controlling pain remains a significant issue for cancer patients. The purpose of this guide is to help healthcare professionals treating cancer patients in all medical settings understand the evaluation and treatment of pain and its accompanying symptoms. This guide was developed through collaboration among healthcare professionals, patients, and health policy experts. The expert panel combined scientific evidence with expert judgment to provide guidelines for the treatment of cancer pain. The suffering, disability, and impact on quality of life caused by cancer pain impose a heavy toll on patients. This guide recommends actively treating cancer pain using both pharmacological and non-pharmacological methods. In most cases, relatively low-cost and non-invasive therapies can effectively manage pain. Barriers within the healthcare system that hinder effective pain management must be addressed, such as strict regulations on the use of opioid pain medications and the lack of reimbursement for less invasive therapies.