EXISTENTIAL CONSEQUENCES OF UNRELIEVED CANCER PAIN

Seventy-eight cancer patients who were being treated for pain-related problems underwent a semistructured interview concerning the influence of cancer and cancer pain on existential issues. Pain intensity was a ssessed with visual analogue scales in order to quantify the overall m ean pain intensity as well as pain intensity during the best and worst periods. Patients with a higher overall mean pain score (i.e. insuffi cient pain control) or higher mean worst pain score expressed signific antly more fear about the future (P < 0.01), worries about pain progre ssion (P < 0.05) and general anxiety that hampered their daily living (P < 0.05). Younger patients expressed more fear of pain progression a nd of the future in general and they were much more concerned about th e future of their families (P < 0.05). The fear of future pain problem s was related to the duration of the pain (P < 0.01). In conclusion, p artly unrelieved pain contributes to the 'total pain' experience, not only by causing immediate physical suffering, but also by increasing t he anxiety level and the fear about the future and future problems. Th e study underlines that effective symptom control is a prerequisite fo r a good quality of life: pain control is a matter of the highest prio rity.