Coordinating pain control in newly diagnosed head/neck cancer: From a case report to a multi-disciplinary approach

Over 1.6 million individuals will receive a new diagnosis of some form of cancer this year. Approximately 2.2% of these cancers will be related to the head and neck, and the vast majority (85%) of patients will present with initial symptoms of pain. Pain is one of the most feared symptoms of cancer, and up to 85% of patients report poorly controlled pain. This case describes the approach, treatment methods, and outcomes of a patient with newly diagnosed cancer, and how a multi-disciplinary model can be used and improved upon in order to successfully treat reported levels of pain. We concluded that the involvement of multiple medical professionals can be used to manage pain, and that communication, roles and feedback are key to successful therapy. Keywords: Squamous cell carcinoma, Nasopharyngeal carcinoma, Morphine, Head and neck cancer, Pain managemen