Editorial
Cancer pain management: What should be done to improve effectiveness?
Abstract
In 2008, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (1)
estimated that there were more than 12.4 million new cancer
cases worldwide, 7.6 million deaths from the disease, and 28
million people with cancer surviving five years after initial
diagnosis. Advances in cancer treatment have increased survival
rates and prolonged life spans (2), but there is still inevitable
damage to healthy cells and tissues due either to the cancer
itself or to the therapy applied, and side effects or symptoms
therefore occur during or after the treatment. Among the various
symptoms experienced by cancer patients, pain is one of the
most prevalent (3).
estimated that there were more than 12.4 million new cancer
cases worldwide, 7.6 million deaths from the disease, and 28
million people with cancer surviving five years after initial
diagnosis. Advances in cancer treatment have increased survival
rates and prolonged life spans (2), but there is still inevitable
damage to healthy cells and tissues due either to the cancer
itself or to the therapy applied, and side effects or symptoms
therefore occur during or after the treatment. Among the various
symptoms experienced by cancer patients, pain is one of the
most prevalent (3).
