title: Cancer pain: an age-based analysis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Although cancer pain (consistent and breakthrough pain [BTP; pain flares interrupting well-controlled baseline pain]) is common among cancer patients, its characteristics, etiology, and impact on health-related quality of life (HRQOL) across the lifespan are poorly understood.
  
  
  METHODS
  This longitudinal study examines age-based differences and pain-related interference in young and old patients with cancer-related pain over 6 months. Patients in the community with stage III or IV breast, prostate, colorectal, or lung cancer, or stage II-IV multiple myeloma with BTP completed surveys (upon initial assessment, 3 and 6 months) assessing consistent pain, BTP, depressed affect, active coping ability, and HRQOL using previously validated measures.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Respondents (N= 96) were 70% white and 66% female, with a mean age of 57±10 years. There were no significant differences in pain severity based upon age. However, the younger group experienced more pain flares with greater frequency (P=0.05). The oldest group had better emotional functioning at baseline but worse physical functioning at 6 months. Younger groups also had worse cognitive functioning at 6 months (P=0.03). Pain interference was independent of age.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These data provide evidence for the significant toll of cancer pain on overall health and well-being of young and old adults alike but demonstrate an increased toll for younger adults (especially financially). Beyond race and gender disparities, further health care disparities in the cancer and cancer pain were identified by age, illustrating the need for additional research across the lifespan in diverse cancer survivors.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109-5048, USA. carmeng@med.umich.edu
authors.forename: Carmen R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Green
authors.forename: Tamera
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hart-Johnson
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001290:Attitude; D015897:Comorbidity; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000523:psychology; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010148:Intractable Pain / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D010166:Palliative Care / Q000523:psychology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life