ANALGESIA IN CANCER PAIN PATIENTS AND IN PALLIATIVE MEDICINE - PART 1- PHARMACOTHERAPY

Like other industrial countries Germany experiences a significant incr ease of cancer prevalence. Recent advances in the treatment of various types of cancer resulted in prolonged survivaltimes of patients. Canc er - especially in advanced incurable stages - often is accompanied by severe pain. Therefore, the need for sufficient pain management and s ymptomcontrol is obvious. Throughout the last decades new drugs and te chniques for the management of cancer-pain have been developed. Most c ancer-patients should experience sufficient pain-management if existin g recommendations for the pharmacological, treatment of cancer-pain (e .g. WHO-guidelines) are followed consequently. In case of intractable pain or ongoing disabling symptoms despite proper therapy consultation of an expert in palliative medicine should always be considered as we ll as the option to refer the patient to a specialized pain-management center.