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

Abstract

Although methods for controlling most cases of severe cancer pain exist, probably about 50% of patients still suffer from unnecessary, poorly controlled pain. Cancer pain has a substantial negative effect on mood, resulting in anxiety, depressive feelings and even suicidal thoughts and cognitive functions are disturbed. As cancer pain often originates from skeletal metastases, 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 effects far beyond the physical suffering.