Un’indagine europea per approfondire la conoscenza del dolore legato al cancro, la sua prevalenza e il suo trattamento. La ricerca è stata condotta su un panel di oltre 5.000 pazienti oncologici, a diversi stadi della malattia, selezionati in 11 Paesi europei e in Israele. I risultati hanno mostrato che moltissimi pazienti soffrono fortemente a causa del dolore. Le conclusioni dello studio delineano la mancanza di attenzione verso la cura del dolore e il conseguente miglioramento della qualità di vita del malato. Fonte: Breivik H, Cherny N, Collett B, de Conno F, Filbet M, Foubert AJ, Cohen R, Dow L. - http://annonc.oxfordjournals.org/content/20/8/1420.abstract?sid=338efbb8-9e4d-4d7f-bd99-8a1a0aecef9e “Qualsiasi immagine/tabella/parte di testo riprodotta è riportata ad esclusivo scopo didattico/informativo gratuito. Qualora necessario, siamo disponibili al riconoscimento dei diritti di copyright agli autori, alle fonti citate e agli aventi diritto”.

1. Cancer-related pain: a pan-European survey of prevalence, treatment,
and patient attitudes
Breivik H, Cherny N, Collett B, de Conno F, Filbet M, Foubert AJ, Cohen R, Dow L.
Background: The European Pain in Cancer survey sought to increase understanding of cancerrelated pain and treatment across Europe.
Patients and methods: Patients with all stages of cancer participated in a two-phase telephone
survey conducted in 11 European countries and Israel in 2006–2007. The survey screened for
patients experiencing pain at least weekly, then randomly selected adult patients with pain of at
least moderate intensity occurring several times per week for the last month completed a detailed
attitudinal questionnaire.
Results: Of 5084 adult patients contacted, 56% suffered moderate-to-severe pain at least monthly.
Of 573 patients randomly selected for the second survey phase, 77% were receiving prescriptiononly analgesics, with 41% taking strong opioids either alone or with other drugs for cancer-related
pain. Of those prescribed analgesics, 63% experienced breakthrough pain. In all, 69% reported
pain-related difficulties with everyday activities; however, 50% believed that their quality of life
was not considered a priority in their overall care by their health care professional.
Conclusions: Across Europe and Israel, treatment of cancer pain is suboptimal. Pain and pain relief
should be considered integral to the diagnosis and treatment of cancer; management guidelines
should be revised to improve pain control in patients with cancer.
Disponibile online sul sito: http://annonc.oxfordjournals.org/content/20/8/1420.abstract?sid=338efbb89e4d-4d7f-bd99-8a1a0aecef9e