The immune-suppressive nature of pain.
OBJECTIVE
To review evidence that the immune system plays a role in controlling the spread of cancer and findings that perioperative pain relief improves immune status and health outcomes.


METHODS
Research studies and review articles pertaining to immunity, immune function, stress, and immune-suppressive nature of pain.


CONCLUSIONS
Pain not only results in suffering but is a pathogen itself, capable of facilitating the progression of metastatic disease. Adequate pain relief decreases these risks.


CONCLUSIONS
Adequate pain relief is not only a primary concern in caring for individuals in pain but may be a matter of physiologic necessity as further studies reveal the immune-suppressive nature of pain.
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College of Nursing, Ohio State University, Columbus 43210, USA.
Ben-Eliyahu
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D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007108:Immune Tolerance; D009020:Morphine / Q000276:immunology; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D009859:Oncology Nursing; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000523:psychology; D011598:Psychoneuroimmunology; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D009020:Morphine