Pain in the Pediatric Oncology Patient

Abstract

Pediatric oncology nurses face many challenges in treating the pain associated with childhood cancer. The type and severity of pain children with cancer experience varies from acute, short-term, procedure-related pain to the progressive chronic pain associated with terminal illness. In addition, the unfounded fears of using strong narcotic analgesics and the underutilization of psychological techniques to treat pain in children limit the effectiveness of pain management. Armed with objective data, pediatric oncology nurses can work with other members of the cancer treatment team to provide relief from the pain associated with the diagnosis and treatment of childhood cancer.