One in three people will develop some kind of cancer in their lifetime. The overall cancer incidence has increased by 25% since 1975. Anaesthetic involvement in hospital interactions has been estimated at around 75%, and so anaesthetists are likely to have major input into the care of the cancer patient. This input may start with the preoperative assessment, but often extends to the intensive care unit and the management of both acute and chronic disease, or procedural related pain.
This book is comprised of five main sections dealing with cancer, anaesthesia for cancer surgery, intensive care, pain management and supportive and palliative care. The chapters are authored by acknowledged specialists in their field of cancer patient management. The anaesthesia section discusses not just major surgery but includes the specific and subtle differences that exist in the diverse types of specialist cancer surgery. The pain section deals with the current status of several specific cancer pain problems with contemporary evidence and recent developments in management. This book also introduces novel ways of looking at conventional treatments such as the genetic aspects of opioid use. For a complete understanding of the cancer patient, other aspects of care are also considered, including psychological care and complementary medicines.

Pain Medicine, a relatively new specialty, has proven increasingly relevant to medical practitioners in every field. The specialism of pain has emerged over the past 50 years, largely due to the persistence of experts and new medical evidence that points to its necessity. Today, it is a distinct and integral part of global medical practice. Landmark Papers in Pain offers a comprehensive inventory of over 80 key studies in pain medicine from the last 100 years. Each paper is accompanied by a concise commentary on the significance of the original findings written by an expert in pain. The reviews discuss how the paper influenced the development of the speciality, and how the findings have advanced our global comprehension of pain. Together, the selected papers and reviews chart the growth of an embryonic field into the modern speciality of pain medicine. Complied by leading specialists in the field, the papers included in this book are significant for any student, researcher, clinical practitioner, or medical historian interested in pain medicine. Organised into eight distinct topics and cross-referenced by topics and author of original paper, the book is comprehensive in its coverage and easy to use. A review of the contemporary and historical research that shaped the speciality of pain, Landmark Papers in Pain is essential reading for all medical practitioners with an interest in pain medicine.