The pharmacologic management of cancer pain

The management of cancer pain requires familiarity with a range of therapeutic strategies, including antineoplastic therapies, analgesic pharmacotherapy, and anesthetic, neurosurgical, psychological, and rehabilitation techniques. Successful pain management is characterized by implementation of the techniques with the most favorable therapeutic index for the prevailing circumstances, along with provision for repeated evaluations, so that a favorable balance between pain relief and adverse effects is maintained. For most patients, pain management involves the administration of specific analgesic approaches. In all cases, these analgesic treatments must be skillfully integrated with the management of other symptoms.