Management of cancer pain

ABSTRACT

Cancer remains a major worldwide health problem with an estimated nine million new cases occurring annually. The incidence is progressively increasing, especially in the Caribbean and Latin America. About one-half of all cancer patients and over 70-80% of those with advanced cancer experience moderate to severe pain. Several surveys have clearly shown that about 80-90% of patients can have their pain easily controlled with simple available resources. Yet sadly, pain is often under-estimated and under-treated, resulting in unnecessary suffering and a compromised quality of life. There are many obstacles to adequate cancer-pain relief (AU)