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Pain management in advanced cancer.
K S Ogle1, D Warren, J D Plumb
1Department of Family Practice, College of Human Medicine, Michigan State University, Lansing.
Primary Care
|December 1, 1992
Summary
This article details a primary care strategy for managing pain in advanced cancer patients. It covers comprehensive pain assessment, interdisciplinary collaboration, and effective pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic treatments, including proper narcotic and adjuvant analgesic use.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Pain Management
- Primary Care Medicine
Background:
- Advanced cancer frequently causes significant pain, impacting patient quality of life.
- Effective pain management is a critical component of palliative care in oncology.
- A structured approach is needed to address the multifaceted nature of cancer pain.
Purpose of the Study:
- To outline a primary care framework for managing pain in patients with advanced cancer.
- To emphasize the assessment of "total" pain, encompassing physical, emotional, and spiritual aspects.
- To review pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic interventions, stressing appropriate use of analgesics.
Main Methods:
- Review of "total" pain assessment principles in advanced cancer.
- Discussion of interdisciplinary team collaboration for comprehensive care.
- Outline of pharmacologic therapies, including opioid analgesics and adjuvant medications.
- Description of nonpharmacologic pain relief strategies.
Main Results:
- A systematic approach to "total" pain assessment is crucial.
- Interdisciplinary care enhances pain management outcomes.
- Pharmacologic management requires careful titration and monitoring of narcotics and adjuvant analgesics.
- Nonpharmacologic therapies can significantly complement pharmacologic interventions.
Conclusions:
- Primary care physicians can effectively manage cancer pain with a structured approach.
- Comprehensive assessment and interdisciplinary collaboration are key to optimizing pain relief.
- Appropriate use of analgesics and nonpharmacologic methods improves patient well-being in advanced cancer.