Chronic pain can be a serious consequence of surviving cancer. The prevalence of pain in cancer survivors has been reported to be as high as 40%. Predictors include the type and invasiveness of the tumor, the treatment regimen used, time since the cancer treatment, and the efficacy of initial pain therapy. Severe pain is associated with impaired quality of life in this population. Many guidelines and recommendations have been advanced to support the management of cancer pain, associated with advanced disease. This situation is in part caused by the relative absence of studies exploring the experiences of chronic pain in cancer survivors, or the long-term safety and effectiveness of analgesic interventions.
American Society of Clinical Oncology
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