Conclusion

Pain is a significant cause of morbidity and reduced quality of life in patients with cancer and at the end of life. A standardised and co-ordinated multidisciplinary team approach to pain assessment and management is crucial to alleviate suffering for both patients and their families while pursuing healing or a comfortable end of life period. 

The South African Cancer Pain Working Group hopes that this guide will be useful to healthcare providers caring for patients with cancer pain. We encourage units to develop their own protocols based on this document to help standardise and afford the best possible care for these challenging patients.