Cancer pain - A provoker of emotional, social and existential distress

Although methods for controlling most cases of severe cancer pain exist. pr obably about 50% of patients still suffer from unnecessary, poorly controll ed pain. Cancer pain has a substantial negative effect on mood, resulting i n anxiety, depressive feelings and even suicidal thoughts and cognitive fun ctions are disturbed. As cancer pain often originates from skeletal metasta ses, movements and daily activities (ADL) functions are restricted. Cancer pain is associated by the public with progressive disease and dying and is therefore a trigger of existential fears, for both patients and the public. Pain treatment and education are therefore high-priority matters with effe cts far beyond the physical suffering.