Cancer pain assessment and consensus guidelines

Initial evaluation and continued assessment of a cancer patient requires a structured approach to pain evaluation that highlights the multiple dimensions in which pain affects quality of life. The pain experienced by the cancer patient derives from many sources, including tissue damage, surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, medications, less invasive interventional therapy, and psychological distress. It is now widely recognized that pain from many sources is commonly undertreated and effective treatment is based on proper assessment and application of consensus guidelines.