Treatment Satisfaction and Treatment Wishes of Patients with Chronic Cancer-Related Pain

Up to 40% of long-term cancer survivors suffer from chronic cancer-related pain (CCRP) with often inadequate treatment. CCRP is influenced by biopsychosocial factors, with interdisciplinary multimodal pain therapy (IMPT) being a comprehensive treatment option. In our study, patients with CCRP were asked about their treatment satisfaction and treatment wishes.

Two anonymous online surveys on CCRP in long-term survivors were analyzed: survey 1 from cancer self-help group members and survey 2 from patients with CCRP assessed at the Interdisciplinary Pain Center (IPC), resulting in recommendations ranging from outpatient treatment to IMPT.

Thirty-eight members of 8 self-help groups in survey 1 and 50 of 158 patients with CCRP in survey 2 completed the questionnaire. In both surveys, relevant pain impairment and pain therapy dissatisfaction were identified. A higher intensity of therapy, including the implementation of IMPT, did not lead to better pain control. Consistent with the biopsychosocial factors in CCRP, increased depression scores and increased treatment dissatisfaction correlated. In both surveys, participants expressed extensive therapy wishes.

Despite comprehensive therapeutic approaches, long-term survivors with CCRP suffer from severe pain and treatment dissatisfaction. Biopsychosocial influences are evident, with depression worsening treatment satisfaction. Classical IMPT for CCRP may not be targeted enough and a more specific therapeutic approach should be developed and must be tested using patient-reported outcome measures.