Cancer Pain

Cancer remains one of the most common life-threatening illnesses seen today, with approximately 1.5 million new cases diagnosed in the United States each year. Cancer is the cause of death for over one-half million people. Furthermore, this is a global problem as 6.6 million people die from cancer around the world annually. Despite its prevalence, cancer pain remains under-recognized, often with disastrous results. The consequences of inadequate cancer pain relief include increased physiological stress, diminished immuno-competence, decreased functional status, and potential enhanced risk for the complications of immobility, such as pneumonia and thromboembolism, as well as diminished survival. Because of the heterogeneous nature of cancer pain, there is no one pathophysiological mechanism. Broadly, most cancer pain syndromes related to the tumor are due to underlying damage to surrounding tissues. Chemotherapy-induced painful peripheral neuropathies are increasing in importance, in part, due to the increasing numbers of neurotoxic agents being used.