Pain characteristics in patients with cancer – analysis of the problems in pain management and palliative care

Introduction
Pain is one of the most common symptoms accompanying cancer, and it is the symptom that patients fear the most. It can have different origins and nature, and be experienced differently by each patient. The key to effectively treat pain is to recognise the aetiology, type of pain, and its nature, which often requires the use of additional tools for the quantitative and qualitative assessment of the pain felt by the patient.

Material and methods
The examination was performed on the patients during treatment in the Pain Management Clinic. The study included an interview, details of previous pain treatment, physical examination of the patient, and an assessment of pain intensity using the NRS scale and the McGill Pain Questionnaire to evaluate the nature of the pain experienced in various dimensions. Results: A total of 661 patients aged 19–96 years (mean age 64 years) were examined. In total, 389 patients reported high pain on the NRS scale (7–10 points), 214 patients reported medium pain on the NRS scale (4–6 points), and 58 patients experienced low pain on the NRS scale (1–3 points). The largest group of patients (329) were patients with cancer pain experienced constantly and with variable intensity (49.8% of patients). The analysis of pain in the affective and evaluative aspects showed that the highest pain intensity was sharp and radiating, as well as pressing, shooting, and burning pain.

Results
A total of 661 patients aged 19–96 years (mean age 64 years) were examined. In total, 389 patients reported high pain on the NRS scale (7–10 points), 214 patients reported medium pain on the NRS scale (4–6 points), and 58 patients experienced low pain on the NRS scale (1–3 points). The largest group of patients (329) were patients with cancer pain experienced constantly and with variable intensity (49.8% of patients). The analysis of pain in the affective and evaluative aspects showed that the highest pain intensity was sharp and radiating, as well as pressing, shooting, and burning pain.

Conclusions
Pain is a multidimensional problem and a disease in itself. Oncology patients with chronic pain have difficulty accurately assessing their pain and communicating it appropriately to the doctor during a visit to the office. Multidimensional pain assessment facilitates making an accurate diagnosis and implementing basic and adjuvant pharmacological treatment individually tailored to the patient. Effective pain control improves the patient’s quality of life, reduces the severity of comorbid symptoms, stabilizes their mood, and increases their motivation to fight the disease.