COSA 2015* Sponsored by:
Speaker: Dr Richard Sullivan
Content: For any oncologist, treatment of pain remains a priority to ensure optimal function and comfort for the patient. Yet pain in a patient with cancer is complex, as it can evolve with disease progression and can be caused by not only the tumour, but also by the cancer therapy and cancer-related debility. Furthermore, the mechanisms underlying cancer-related pain are often mixed and can involve nociceptive and/or neuropathic pain.
This symposium will explore current understanding of the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying cancer pain and highlight the rationale behind a mechanism-based approach to managing cancer pain. A recent pharmacological treatment for cancer pain will be reviewed in this context.