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Abstract

Cancer pain is a subjective sensation of tissue damage, which has an adverse influence on multiple domains in an ­individual’s life. Severe pain is associated with decreased function, increased interference with daily activities, depression, and anxiety. Pain is a major problem in 25–30% of individuals with newly diagnosed cancer and 70–80% with advanced cancer. Over 500,000 Americans die of cancer each year corres­ponding to 1,500 deaths per day [1]; therefore, cancer pain is a major problem that cancer specialists face. The lifetime probability of invasive cancer is 45% for men and 38% for women. Among men, prostate, lung, colon, and rectal cancers account for 50% of newly diagnosed cancers. Breast, lung, and colorectal cancers account for 50% of cancers in women. [1] As a result, bone and visceral pain are major pain subtypes clinicians need to manage.

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Correspondence to Mellar P. Davis .

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© 2010 Society for Imaging Informatics in Medicine

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Davis, M.P. (2010). Cancer Pain. In: Olver, I. (eds) The MASCC Textbook of Cancer Supportive Care and Survivorship. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-1225-1_2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-1225-1_2

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