Special needs related to the pain and discomfort of patients with gynecologic cancer.

Patients with gynecologic malignancies can experience pain associated with a variety of causes. Chronic pain associated with the disease or treatment presents the most problems. Chronic cancer-related pain is associated with negative mood states and a decrease in the patient's quality of life. Clinicians must conduct pain assessments on a routine basis to accurately diagnose the specific pain syndrome in patients with gynecologic cancer. An overview of how to conduct a pain assessment with such patients is provided. The etiology, clinical manifestations, and treatment strategies for the most common pain syndromes seen in patients with gynecologic cancer are reviewed. The use of nonpharmacologic interventions with this patient population is discussed.