Management of cancer pain in adult patients: ESMO Clinical Practice Guidelines

Pain is common in cancer patients, particularly in the advanced stage of disease when the prevalence is estimated to be more than 70% [1], contributing to poor physical and emotional well-being. The most comprehensive systematic review indicates pain prevalence ranging from 33% in patients after curative treatment, to 59% in patients on anticancer treatment and to 64% in patients with metastatic, advanced or terminal disease [2]. Pain has a high prevalence earlier in disease in specific cancer types such as pancreatic (44%) and head and neck cancer (40%) [3].