Current pain and headache reports
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Curr Pain Headache Rep · Aug 2008
Case ReportsPain management in palliative care oncology patients.
Palliative care is an interdisciplinary approach to relieving aversive symptoms in people with life-threatening illnesses; it aims to improve the lives of patients and their loved ones, the "patient-family unit." Palliative care should occur in parallel with all other medical interventions. Indeed, good symptom management is important in helping patients cope with the unpleasantness associated with potentially curative or life-prolonging interventions; it is absolutely essential near the end of life. ⋯ When systemic medications fail, due to inadequate analgesia or burdensome side effects, invasive techniques may complement, or replace, systemic therapy. Using a case-based format, we illustrate some complex issues that clinicians face and offer strategies to improve the lives of oncology patients with pain.