Achieving effective control in cancer pain: a review of current guidelines

Abstract

Pain is one of the most common and distressing elements of suffering related to cancer and cancer treatment. Progress in cancer treatment means people will live longer with the sequelae of cancer and disease-directed treatments, and both the short- and long-term effects of opioid use must be considered. Skilled practitioners caring for individuals with cancer help to alleviate cancer-related pain by using the World Health Organization (WHO) step-wise approach to pain management as well as recently updated national and international guidelines. Current guidelines go beyond the unidimensional WHO model by addressing comprehensive assessment, pharmacological management of opioids and adverse effects associated with opioid use, the role of adjuvants, and the application of non-pharmacological treatments. By following current guidelines promoting a multifaceted approach to the management of cancer-related pain and advocating for patient-centered care, nurses are uniquely positioned to champion effective cancer pain management.