Cancer Pain: Current Bench to Bedside Research

Abstract

Not to diminish the value of this book, but as fair criticism, what I missed in this otherwise comprehensive treatment of the subject was some discussion about innovative models of care and the outcomes of educational efforts to improve cancer pain assessment and management in routine cancer care settings. For all that is known and written about, we are still challenged mightily by the seemingly low priority given to pain, despite (almost) universal agreement that it is important and such a significant burden to patients and their families. Although empirically sound information on what certain individual clinicians, clinical groups, and health care systems have done successfully is difficult to amass, it would have been useful to know what models of practice have been cost-effective, in summary form, to improve on the status quo. That said, order the book: operators are standing by!