IASP Declares Global Year Against Cancer Pain - "Raising Awareness, Improving Treatment, Growing Support" Campaign

Main Category: Pain / Anesthetics
Also Included In: Neurology / Neuroscience;  Cancer / Oncology;  Arthritis / Rheumatology
Article Date: 20 Oct 2008 - 0:00 PDT

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The International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP) launches its Global Year Against Cancer Pain today. Scheduled through mid-October 2009, the campaign will draw attention to pain and suffering experienced by people with cancer.

More than 10 million people worldwide are diagnosed with cancer each year, and their pain is a serious concern. Approximately one-third of adults who are actively receiving treatment for cancer and two-thirds of those with advanced malignant disease experience pain. Children with cancer have similar experiences.

Under the theme of "Raising Awareness, Improving Treatment, Growing Support," IASP members and chapters will hold lectures, training sessions, and other events to highlight issues in cancer pain and encourage:

-- Proper assessment and management of cancer pain by health-care professionals
-- Increased access to appropriate treatments for cancer pain
-- More research on the underlying biology of cancer pain
-- New therapies to relieve pain among cancer patients

IASP will publish fact sheets on current topics in cancer pain, including barriers to cancer-pain treatment, treatment-related pain, psychological aspects, and cancer pain in older people. Several issues of IASP's Pain: Clinical Updates publication will address cancer pain, and the October 31 issue of PAIN (IASP's journal) will include an editorial by Drs. Eija Kalso and Judith Paice, co-chairs of the Global Year Task Force. IASP and its chapters will also sponsor efforts to educate health-care providers, governments, and the public on cancer pain.

"I encourage my colleagues in pain research and treatment, in partnership with health-care professionals, government officials, and community leaders - and anyone whose life or family has been touched by cancer - to join us in raising the profile of cancer pain," said IASP President G.F. Gebhart, PhD. "We hope this will be an important first step toward alleviating pain and suffering among cancer patients across the globe."

About IASP IASP brings together scientists, clinicians, health-care providers, and policy makers to stimulate and support the study of pain and translate that knowledge into improved pain relief worldwide. With more than 7,000 members in 114 countries, IASP sponsors symposia and grants to support pain research. On the third Monday of each October, IASP launches a new Global Year to raise awareness of different aspects of pain. More information: www.iasp-pain.org/GlobalYear