Assessment and Treatment Outcomes of Pain in Cancer Patients Undergoing Chemotherapy - A Tertiary Care Centre...

Pain is a prevalent and debilitating symptom in cancer patients, significantly affecting their quality of life. This study aimed to evaluate pain severity, its management and associated factors in patients undergoing chemotherapy in a tertiary care centre.

A single-centre observational study was conducted at the Department of Medical Oncology, Mahatma Gandhi Medical College and Research Institute, Puducherry, India, from January 2024 to June 2024. One hundred and four chemotherapy patients were assessed using the numerical rating scale to evaluate pain severity. Data on demographic characteristics, chemotherapy regimens and pain management strategies were collected.

Of 104 patients, 54% were female and 46% were male. Pain scores indicated mild (45%), moderate (28%) and severe pain (10%) levels, with females reporting higher pain scores than males. Cancer staging revealed that 15% of patients were in Stage I, 20% in Stage II, 40% in Stage III and 25% in Stage IV. Pain intensity correlated with cancer progression, with severe pain predominantly observed in Stage III and IV patients. Individualised pain management using weak-to-moderate analgesics was effective in reducing pain intensity, though advanced-stage patients required stronger opioid-based interventions.

Effective pain management tailored to individual pain levels significantly improved patient comfort. Future research should focus on refining pain management protocols and integrating non-pharmacological interventions to improve quality of life.