++
Definition of Pain
Pain is “an unpleasant sensory and emotional experience associated with actual or potential tissue damage” (IASP Subcommittee on Taxonomy, p. 250). What this tells us is that pain is far more than a physical phenomenon; it clearly has a sensory and emotional component. A very important definition of pain is: “Pain is whatever the experiencing person says it is, existing whenever he/she says it does” (McCaffery, p. 95). This is important in that it is critical to always believe the patient with cancer who says that he/she has pain
Pain terms: a list with definitions and notes on usage. Recommended by the IASP Subcommittee on Taxonomy. Pain 1979;6:249–252
McCaffery M. Nursing Practice theories related to cognition, bodily pain, and man–environment interactions. Los Angeles, UCLA Student Store, 1968
++
Prevalence
More than 70% of patients with advanced cancer report having moderate-to-severe pain
At time of diagnosis and during active treatment, 30–50% of patients have cancer pain
In the advanced stages, 70–90% have pain (Levy)
40–50% of patients report their pain as being moderate or severe
25–30% of patients report very severe or excruciating pain
In a large series of 2000 patients, one-third had 1 site of pain, one-third had 2 sites of pain, and one-third had 3 or more sites (Twycross)
Levy MH. N Engl J Med 1996;335:1124–1132
Twycross R. In: Sykes N, Fallon MT, Patt RP, eds. Clinical Pain Management: Cancer Pain/Practical Applications & Procedures. London, UK: Hodder & Stoughton Educational; 2003:3–21
++++