Head and Neck Cancer Pain

Abstract

Pain is a significant morbidity resulting from head and neck cancer. Pain may also be the result of the treatments directed against head and neck cancer. An experienced practitioner may manage this pain by understanding the multifactorial mechanisms of pain and the various pharmacotherapies available. Pain should be managed with multiple medications in a multimodal approach, and nonpharmacologic therapies should be considered as well.

Keywords: Acute postsurgical pain; Head and neck cancer pain; Mucositis; Multimodal therapy; Neuropathic pain; Opioid management.