The prevalence of neuropathic pain in cancer patients is high, up to 40% of cancer patients with pain.
It seems that the percentage of patients with neuropathic pain component may be higher because of
co-existence of nervous system changes in patients with bone pain and more common use of potentially
neurotoxic methods of cancer treatment: radiotherapy, chemotherapy and more commonly new introduced
molecular therapies of cancer. The diagnosis of neuropathic pain can be established by a detailed
history taking including clinical symptoms, physical examination, investigations and additionally the use
of validated instruments designed for neuropathic pain assessment. The treatment of neuropathic pain in
cancer patients is based mainly on pharmacotherapy with opioids recommended as first-line agents for
the treatment of neuropathic cancer pain. Adjuvant analgesisc especially antidepressants and anticonvulsants
are often effective in combination with opioids, however apart from analgesia improvement they
may enhance the risk of adverse events. A significant role play oncology treatment, especially palliative
radiotherapy and systemic treatment and in selected patients’ interventional techniques may be carefully considered. Therapy of neuropathic pain should be an important element of a wider holistic plan of
the treatment of cancer patients, which takes into account a meticulous assessment of pain and other
symptoms, evaluation of patients and careers needs with the aim of a complex therapeutic approach as
an effective treatment of symptoms, psychosocial and spiritual support, which may significantly improve
patients and careesrs quality of life
