Management of cancer pain in Korea

Pain occurs in up to 70% of patients with advanced cancer and in about 65% of patients dying from non-malignant disease. Pain can be controlled in most cases (about 80%) using a simple, stepwise approach and a limited number of analgesics as set out in the World Health Organization (WHO) analgesic ladder. About 10% of patients will require more complex, sometimes invasive, management to control their pain, leaving the remaining 10% with cancer pain that is difficult to control. A high prevalence of undertreated cancer pain has indeed been reported in several clinical settings. In Korea, approximately 100,000 new cases of cancer are diagnosed each year, and incidence has increased in the past 15 years. Recently, the management of cancer pain has received increased attention from healthcare professionals such as pain physicians, oncologists, and palliative care providers. In 2001, the guidelines on cancer pain management were distributed to Korean physicians by the Korean Society of Hospice and Palliative Care. However, little data are available concerning the management of cancer pain in Korea. There are many measures available to manage cancer pain in Korea. Examples are medication (NSAIDs, opioids etc.), nerve block and neurolysis, ketamine infusion therapy, radiofrequecy, vertebroplasty and so on. The management of pain is an essential component of a comprehensive approach to patients with cancer for the entire course of the disease, and there is no reason for these patients to have ongoing pain with the full range of drugs and strategies currently available. (C) 2007 European Federation of Chapters of the International Association for the Study of Pain. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.