The medical approach to management of pain caused by cancer.

Abstract

Every physician at some time must manage pain associated with advanced cancer. In spite of the hopeless prognosis, the problem of pain deserves an intelligent appraisal and a systematic plan for relief to conserve the patients's physical, mental, and moral resources and social usefulness as long as possible. Selection of a method of tumor therapy from an array of laternatives demands study of the individual patient and careful consideration of the appropriate measures-the possibilities for success and the limitations, benefits, and risks.