Cancer Pain and the Principles of Cancer Pain Management and World Health Organization Analgesic Ladder

Abstract

Cancer is one of today's most important health problems. The pain of cancer patients significantly affects quality of life and the integrity. In more than 70%of in advanced cancer patients and for their families the pain is even a greater source of fear than death itself. Despite available treatments and the development of effective guidelines for the management of cancer pain, a large proportion of cancer patients remain undertreated due to barriers related to health care resources, patient, and family. In this article we tried to remind that the cancer pain is an important social problem and to provide some information about the cancer pain management and available drugs. We also highlighted that with appropriate pain management especially by prevalent use of World Health Organization (WHO) analgesic ladder can improve patients quality of life and pain relief can be achieved in about 80%of patients.