[Pain in the cancer patient--mechanisms, diagnosis, therapy]

Pain is the most relevant symptom for many cancer patients, therefore treatment is of great importance. Improved knowledge about the mechanisms involved in cancer pain might help to improve therapy. Peripherally acting analgesics should be used when inflammatory mechanisms contribute to the pain (e.g., prostaglandin release). Analgesics acting in the central nervous system (opiates) can be given over longer periods via the oral route; the risk of side effects then is fairly low. Analgesics have to be administered at regular intervals. Severe states of pain can be managed with peridural administration of opitates.