What are the Challenges in Managing Chronic Pain in Cancer Patients?
Several challenges can complicate pain management:
1. Underreporting: Patients may underreport pain due to fear of addiction to medications or reluctance to complain. 2. Tolerance to Medications: Over time, patients may develop tolerance to pain medications, requiring higher doses for the same effect. 3. Side Effects: Pain medications, particularly opioids, can have significant side effects like constipation, drowsiness, and risk of addiction. 4. Complex Pain Syndromes: Cancer pain can be complex, involving multiple mechanisms that make it difficult to treat with a single approach.
