Pain management in older cancer patients

Abstract

As a very frequent symptom, cancer pain in the elderly is an obvious signal for the need to improve the situation, both in physical terms and in terms of a more holistic approach. The multiplicity of causes and expressions of pain and the many means at our disposal for its management should not interfere with a rigorous diagnostic and therapeutic approach based on specific assessment and prognostic scales associated with a comprehensive geriatric evaluation. Thus, knowledge of the precise and safe handling of analgesics and other associated drug products, which can absolutely be offered to these vulnerable patients, is of paramount importance and must always be accompanied by a wish to combine this with consideration and multidisciplinary expertise while pursuing the objective of relief and the maintenance of a level of functional ability and quality of life that are acceptable to the patient.