title: Advocating for management of cancer pain.
abstract: Management of cancer pain is still a significant problem in healthcare today despite the fact that such discomfort can be controlled in approximately 90% of patients. Emotional, psychosocial, and spiritual suffering associated with this disease complicates the problem. Guidelines issued by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality address management of cancer pain. Pain intensity scales, complementary and alternative methods, and the role of an interdisciplinary care team, as well as a need to provide spiritual support to both patient and family, are included in this discussion. A case vignette describes management of cancer pain in a typical patient admitted to hospice.
authors.affiliation: Life Choice Hospice, 200 Dryden Rd, Suite 3300, Dresher, PA 19025, USA. BBitros@LifeChoiceHospice.com
authors.forename: Barbara Schaefer
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Bitros
mesh_terms: D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D017288:Pain Threshold; D010148:Intractable Pain / Q000209:etiology* / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D010166:Palliative Care / Q000379:methods; D010344:Patient Advocacy; D010348:Patient Care Team; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
chemical_list: D000701:Analgesics, Opioid