[Strategy of treatment of cancer pain in children]

Most children with cancer will experience pain during their illness, whether it may be cured or not. They may suffer from acute pain related to treatments or to invasive procedures, or from prolonged pain due to the evolution of cancer or sequellae of treatment. Pain must be considered as a major symptom and must be suspected, diagnosed and evaluated. Physicians have to analyse the different components, the physiopathologic data, and causes of pain. Treatments have to be prescribed, adjusted to each patient and monitored in conformity with rigorous guidelines in order to obtain the best analgesic efficacy and the lowest side effect levels. The use of opioids is frequent and their doses are higher as those used in adults. Neuropathic pain is frequent in children suffering from cancer and requires treatment by means of antidepressant drugs if clinical signs of neuropathic pain are predominant.