Patients undergoing cancer treatment frequently encounter pain, hindering their ability to manage self-care and pursue their daily routines. As cancer progresses to advanced stages, the pain intensifies and persists, profoundly diminishing their quality of life and impacting both mental and physical health. Although opioids are recognized for effectively managing severe pain, concerns about their side effects and addictive potential often lead to inadequate dosing. Additionally, some patients don’t respond well to opioids due to genetic variations or personal preferences. This underscores the necessity for innovative non-opioid therapies for cancer-related pain. Numerous new treatments for cancer-related pain are currently emerging. This article delves into various aspects, including cancer pain, its risk factors, epidemiology, treatment guidelines, individualized therapy, breakthrough pain, cancer-induced peripheral neuropathy, established treatment options, and the latest advancements in managing cancer-related pain.
PainSA is a chapter of the International Association for the Study of Pain. Our mission is to improve all aspects of pain management in Southern Africa.
We are a multidisciplinary society whose membership includes all healthcare professionals