Cancer pain control in Africa (state of the art)

There may be quantitatively more cancer in the developing world, Africa included, than in the developed world. Unlike in the developed world, cancer patients in Africa present for treatment at a late stage and therefore most of them have pain. Yet, the most commonly used modality for treatment of the cancer pain is drugs. Based on the economics of most countries in Africa, their Health Budgets can afford mostly the non-opioid and strong opioid drugs in more or less adequate quantities. Chemotherapy for cancer is very expensive and remains restricted to treating curable cancers. Radiotherapy is new to Africa and available in only very few Centres. There is urgent need to improve on the facilities available in Africa if cancer pain is to be treated more adequately than at present.