Management of pain in colorectal cancer patients

In this review we focus on the pathophysiology of CRC-related pain and discuss currently applied pain management. Pain is a symptom reported by over 70 % of colorectal cancer (CRC) patients. It remains a feared and debilitating consequence of both cancer and cancer-related treatment. There are many options for pain management in CRC, consisting of intravenous, oral or topical medications. In order to address the full spectrum of pain, proper treatment should address the nociceptive, neuropathic and/or psychogenic pain component. Currently available methods do not bring pain relief to satisfying number of patients and, if used improperly, can cause a number of complications. Therefore, future treatments should focus primarily on alleviating pain, but also on reducing possible side effects. In this article we cover recent and promising pharmacological and non pharmacological developments emerging in the field of CRC treatment.

Automated summary

This review focuses on the pathophysiology of CRC-related pain and discusses current pain management strategies. Pain is a common symptom reported by CRC patients, but current methods do not always provide sufficient relief and may cause complications if used improperly. Future treatments should prioritize pain relief and reducing side effects. Recent pharmacological and non-pharmacological developments in CRC treatment are also covered in this article.