Chemotherapy for the Treatment of Cancer Pain

Abstract

In Germany, we hear frequent complaints that no significant improvement of the cancer cure rate has been achieved during the past 30 years. At the National Cancer Institute (USA), cancer mortality rates have been documented since 1940 and a positive trend in the 5-year survival rates for different types of cancer has been observed (Cutler et al. 1975). The decreasing tendency of the mortality curve is evident for tumors occurring predominantly during the fourth and fifth decades of life, including the frequent breast cancer, other gynecologic cancers, various solid tumors, acute and chronic hemoblastoses, and malignant lymphomas. These cancers are treated not only by surgery and radiotherapy, but also by cytostatic and hormonal drugs, and different „combined modality procedures“ have been developed. In this way, the medical oncologist (chemotherapist) has taken on an increasing responsibility not only for hematologic neoplasias, but also for different solid tumors.