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Interventional Therapies for Pain in Cancer Patients: a Narrative Review
David Hao1, Shawn Sidharthan2, Juan Cotte3
1Department of Anesthesia, Critical Care and Pain Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA. david.hao@mgh.harvard.edu.
Current Pain and Headache Reports
|May 7, 2021
Summary
Interventional therapies offer cancer pain relief with fewer risks than traditional methods. These advanced techniques, including neuromodulation, aim to improve cancer patients
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Pain Management
- Interventional Medicine
Background:
- Cancer pain is a significant issue impacting patient quality of life.
- The opioid epidemic necessitates alternative pain management strategies.
- Interventional therapies are gaining traction for cancer pain management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review available interventional techniques for cancer-related pain.
- To discuss the role of these therapies in mitigating pain and improving quality of life.
- To highlight alternatives to traditional opioid-based pain management.
Main Methods:
- Pragmatic narrative review of interventional techniques.
- Discussion of established and emerging interventional approaches.
- Focus on therapies for cancer-related pain.
Main Results:
- A variety of interventional therapies exist for cancer pain.
- Techniques like dorsal root ganglion stimulation and peripheral nerve stimulation are effective.
- Interventional approaches may offer analgesia with reduced systemic toxicity and dependency.
Conclusions:
- Interventional therapies provide effective pain management for cancer patients.
- These methods can potentially reduce reliance on opioids and their associated risks.
- Optimizing interventional pain management can significantly enhance cancer patient quality of life.
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