The guidelines for the management of cancer pain were developed by the world health organization who in 1986 2 but there is substantial evidence that the management of cancer pain is still often suboptimal 3 5 since cancer pain is not a homogenous entity correct pain assessment is essential for obtaining satisfactory management cancer pain is a general term for a large. A quick review of the epidemiology of cancer and the physiology of pain begins the book this is followed by a description of how to assess cancer patients and how to evaluate their pain an adequate amount of text is also devoted to reviewing different types of cancers their symptoms and potential sources of pain complaints. The hospice nurses performance in both cancer pain assessment and management recommendations exceeded that of resident housestaff physicians 2 and family physicians 16 a focused pain history is extremely important in the assessment of a cancer patient with pain hospice nurses performed well in obtaining specific items of pain intensity pain relieving factors and pain location the . Cancer pain assessment diagnosis and management is clinically oriented and comprehensively addresses all the issues surrounding modern cancer pain management the authors provide detailed information on common but difficult to treat cancer pain scenarios coverage includes state of the art information on treatment options and discussions of the impact of radiation chemotherapy and surgery on pain management