The cancer journal
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Chronic pain is a frequent complication of cancer and its treatments and is often underreported, underdiagnosed, and undertreated. Pain in cancer survivors is caused by residual tissue damage from the cancer and/or the cancer therapy. ⋯ Comfort and function are optimized in cancer survivors by a multidisciplinary approach using an individually tailored combination of opioids, coanalgesics, physical therapy, interventional procedures, psychosocial interventions, and complementary and alternative modalities. Management of chronic pain must be integrated into comprehensive cancer care so that cancer patients can fully enjoy their survival.
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This article provides an overview of the most recent literature on the cognitive adverse effects of chemotherapy in patients with breast cancer. The prevalence of cognitive dysfunction in patients treated with chemotherapy was variable in studies using a cross-sectional design. ⋯ Studies using neuroimaging techniques and animal models have begun to examine structural and functional correlates of cognitive changes associated with chemotherapy. A review of the literature suggests that considerable progress has been made in the investigation of chemotherapy-related cognitive dysfunction in recent years, and highlights the importance of a multidisciplinary approach to further elucidate the mechanisms that may underlie treatment-related toxicity.