Pain management in palliative care--an update.
BACKGROUND
Pain is a common and feared problem for those with advanced cancer. The goal of palliative care is to relieve suffering and improve quality of life. A step-by-step approach allows good symptom management and minimisation of drug side effects.


OBJECTIVE
This article aims to improve the general practitioner's confidence in prescribing in the palliative care setting and to encourage early involvement of community palliative care teams.


CONCLUSIONS
Opioid initiation and substitution, and the role of other medications and nondrug therapies in controlling cancer pain are discussed.
Auret
Kirsten
K
School of Medicine and Pharmacology, University of Western Australia, and Palliative Care Unit, Hollywood Private Hospital, Perth, Western Australia, Australia. auretk@cyllene.uwa.edu.au
Pickstock
Sarah
S
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000556:secondary / Q000628:therapy; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001315:Australia; D001859:Bone Neoplasms / Q000556:secondary* / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D008875:Middle Aged; D010146:Pain / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010166:Palliative Care
D000701:Analgesics, Opioid