Chronic pain syndromes in cancer survivors.

Advances in medical knowledge and treatment have resulted in improved five-year survival rates for some forms of cancer. However, pain syndromes resulting from chemotherapy, radiotherapy, surgery or interventional procedures continue to have a significant effect on cancer survivors' quality of life. Nurses are uniquely placed to assess pain in cancer survivors and ensure pain management strategies are initiated. This article focuses on chronic pain syndromes that can occur following cancer treatment, examining the effect of pain on patients' quality of life.