The Assessment and Management of Acute and Chronic Cancer Pain Syndromes.

Abstract

To provide an overview of the most common acute and chronic cancer-related pain syndromes along with their assessment and management. Data sources include peer-reviewed articles, textbooks, and the internet. Various pain syndromes occur throughout the cancer trajectory. Assessing and managing these syndromes, up to years' after treatment, can assure that comfort is provided from diagnosis throughout survivorship. Oncology nurses are essential in assessing and managing acute and chronic cancer-related pain syndromes. Nurses have both a professional and an ethical responsibility to understand these syndromes and to provide optimal pain management.