Philosophy of Pain Control in Cancer Patients

Abstract

The first step in controlling cancer pain is to develop an understanding of the patient's emotional makeup and to deal with his fears, anxieties and possible misconceptions. Treatment for pain then should follow an orderly progression. Pain from localized disease can best be treated by surgery, neurosurgery, radiotherapy or, occasionally, chemotherapy. If radiotherapy is not helpful in pain from regional disease, regional nerve block should be considered. Patients in whom neurosurgical procedures will relieve pain should not be allowed to suffer while the physician temporizes.