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Transformation of Acute Cancer Pain to Chronic Cancer Pain Syndromes
Early detection and advances in cancer treatments have resulted in improved control over progression of malignancies, turning cancer into a chronic disease for many long-term cancer survivors. Approximately 12 million people with a previous diagnosis of cancer are living in the United States, and more than two-thirds of individuals diagnosed with cancer are expected to live at least 5 years after diagnosis. The National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship notes that from “the moment of diagnosis and for the balance of life, an individual diagnosed with cancer is a survivor.” Cancer survivorship may also be described as constituting three distinct phases of treatment: the acute phase (from diagnosis until completion of the initial treatment), the extended phase (the period of partial or complete remission after the initial treatment), and the permanent survival phase (a period of low likelihood of primary disease returning). Despite the advances in cancer therapies, survivors face a number of challenges, including an increased risk of recurrent cancer and other medical treatment-related toxicities. Mariotto et al estimated that as of January 1, 2005, there were more than 300,000 survivors of childhood cancer in the United States. Of these survivors, approximately one-quarter have lived for more than 30 years; however, only a small fraction of survivors (3%) exceeded 60 years of age. The most common cancer diagnoses among the survivors were brain cancer, acute lymphoblastic leukemia, germ cell tumors, and Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Another report showed that 75% of childhood cancer survivors experienced at least one adverse event.
*For a PDF of the full article and accompanying viewpoints by Tom Strouse and Howard Rosner along with Laura Audell, click in the links to the left of this introduction.
Early detection and advances in cancer treatments have resulted in improved control over progression of malignancies, turning cancer into a chronic disease for many long-term cancer survivors. Approximately 12 million people with a previous diagnosis of cancer are living in the United States, and more than two-thirds of individuals diagnosed with cancer are expected to live at least 5 years after diagnosis. The National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship notes that from “the moment of diagnosis and for the balance of life, an individual diagnosed with cancer is a survivor.” Cancer survivorship may also be described as constituting three distinct phases of treatment: the acute phase (from diagnosis until completion of the initial treatment), the extended phase (the period of partial or complete remission after the initial treatment), and the permanent survival phase (a period of low likelihood of primary disease returning). Despite the advances in cancer therapies, survivors face a number of challenges, including an increased risk of recurrent cancer and other medical treatment-related toxicities. Mariotto et al estimated that as of January 1, 2005, there were more than 300,000 survivors of childhood cancer in the United States. Of these survivors, approximately one-quarter have lived for more than 30 years; however, only a small fraction of survivors (3%) exceeded 60 years of age. The most common cancer diagnoses among the survivors were brain cancer, acute lymphoblastic leukemia, germ cell tumors, and Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Another report showed that 75% of childhood cancer survivors experienced at least one adverse event.
*For a PDF of the full article and accompanying viewpoints by Tom Strouse and Howard Rosner along with Laura Audell, click in the links to the left of this introduction.
Early detection and advances in cancer treatments have resulted in improved control over progression of malignancies, turning cancer into a chronic disease for many long-term cancer survivors. Approximately 12 million people with a previous diagnosis of cancer are living in the United States, and more than two-thirds of individuals diagnosed with cancer are expected to live at least 5 years after diagnosis. The National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship notes that from “the moment of diagnosis and for the balance of life, an individual diagnosed with cancer is a survivor.” Cancer survivorship may also be described as constituting three distinct phases of treatment: the acute phase (from diagnosis until completion of the initial treatment), the extended phase (the period of partial or complete remission after the initial treatment), and the permanent survival phase (a period of low likelihood of primary disease returning). Despite the advances in cancer therapies, survivors face a number of challenges, including an increased risk of recurrent cancer and other medical treatment-related toxicities. Mariotto et al estimated that as of January 1, 2005, there were more than 300,000 survivors of childhood cancer in the United States. Of these survivors, approximately one-quarter have lived for more than 30 years; however, only a small fraction of survivors (3%) exceeded 60 years of age. The most common cancer diagnoses among the survivors were brain cancer, acute lymphoblastic leukemia, germ cell tumors, and Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Another report showed that 75% of childhood cancer survivors experienced at least one adverse event.
*For a PDF of the full article and accompanying viewpoints by Tom Strouse and Howard Rosner along with Laura Audell, click in the links to the left of this introduction.