Control of pain in cancer patients

Preview

For most patients who learn they have cancer, the biggest fear is the pain that may be ahead. Dr Belgrade describes a strategy to control pain caused by cancer or its treatment that is successful in 90% of patients. He explains the “analgesic ladder” (a method of progression from weak to stronger analgesic agents), proper dose and method of administration, and use of adjuvant agents to increase analgesic potency or modify pain-influencing factors, such as depression or sleep disturbance.