Causes of pain in advanced lung cancer
The three main causes of pain in patients with advanced
lung cancer are skeletal metastatic disease (34%),
pancoast tumor (31%) and chest wall disease (21%).18
In order to manage pain in lung cancer patients it
is essential to understand and use general principles
of pain management. The analgesic options include
opioids which may be combined with adjuvant
analgesics for optimal palliation of pain. Pain
refractory to general management may require
specialist
skills and techniques.