Multimodal Rehabilitation for Advanced Cancer Pain: a Narrative Review of Emerging Nonpharmacological Strategies.

Introduction
The global cancer burden has continued to grow in recent years [1]. A systematic evaluation and meta-analysis revealed that pain is one of the most common symptoms associated with cancer, and this symptom is more prominent in patients with advanced cancer [2]. Globally, especially in low- and middle-income countries [3], there is an urgent need for universally accessible palliative care and pain-relieving rehabilitation services [4]. Therefore, the management of cancer pain is critical for improving patients’ quality of life. Over the past five decades, significant efforts have been directed toward improving cancer pain assessment and management [5]. However, approximately 40% of advanced patients with cancer still experience refractory pain, underscoring the unmet need for multimodal approaches [5].
Although medications play an important role in managing cancer pain, conventional analgesics alone provide adequate relief for less than one-third of patients with advanced cancer, this is because advanced cancer pain is often caused by a combination of harmful and neurologic mechanisms. More than half of patients receiving anticancer therapy, and more than two-thirds of patients with advance, metastatic, or end-stage disease experience inadequate relief with conventional analgesics alone [5–7]. This underscores the need for multimodal strategies [8–10]. To address these limitations, a range of nonpharmacological interventions [7] – including physical therapy, exercise training, psychological approaches, and complementary therapies – are increasingly recognized as valuable adjuncts to pharmacotherapy, aiming to enhance pain control, reduce medication burden and side effects, and improve overall well-being, especially those that provide long-term pain relief and improved quality of life, are receiving increasing attention. Overall, the field of advanced cancer pain rehabilitation is a relatively new and rapidly evolving area [11], and relatively little research has been conducted on nonpharmacological and rehabilitative therapies in the field of advanced cancer pain management [12], particularly in the context of a review of integrative treatment approaches [13, 14].
Within this context, this review focuses on the concept of integrative pain management (defined as the coordinated use of conventional and complementary interventions within a patient-centered, multidisciplinary framework) to achieve pain control and minimize treatment-related burdens. Recent guidelines further emphasize the integration of multimodal strategies, including both pharmacologic and nonpharmacological interventions [8, 15]. This review will next focus on nonpharmacological interventions that, in combination with pharmacologic treatments, are designed to optimize pain control and minimize side effects.

Methods
Given the exploratory and integrative nature of this review, which aims to map the breadth of evolving interventions rather than aggregate quantitative data, a systematic methodology (e.g., PRISMA) was not employed. Instead, a pragmatic approach was adopted to capture high-impact evidence and consensus guidelines: This review synthesizes evidence from peer-reviewed articles (2005–2024) retrieved via PubMed, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library, using keywords: “advanced cancer pain,” “nonpharmacological interventions,” “exercise training,” “physical therapy,” and “multimodal rehabilitation.”

Pharmacotherapy
Currently, cancer pain management relies heavily on the World Health Organization’s (WHO) pain ladder (Fig. 1) [17, 18]. Pharmacologic therapy is the cornerstone of cancer pain management, but long-term dependence may lead to increased drug resistance and the accumulation of side effects [6, 7]. Table 1 has been classified and organized according to the three-step pain relief method recommended by the WHO as well as common adjuvant pain medications, to facilitate a clearer presentation of the different classes of medications and their side-effects and advantages in the treatment of cancer pain, and to help us better understand the pharmacological treatment of cancer pain. Candido et al. proposed an update on traditional three-step paroxysmal therapy by explicitly incorporating interventional therapy as the fourth step in cancer pain [21]. In 2018, the World Health Organization (WHO) updated its guidelines to allow the direct use of potent opioids for patients with moderate chronic cancer pain, regardless of whether they have completed the second-step treatment [22]. Updates to the analgesic ladder are shown in Fig. 2.

Nonpharmacological Interventions
There are a variety of pain management strategies that can supplement pharmacologic interventions. These include physical therapy, music therapy [24] and psychotherapy [25], collectively referred to as interventions with no pharmacologic component [23]. These methods are contributes to managing cancer pain [26]. These therapies (Fig. 3) are especially important in situations such as when medications do not provide adequate analgesia or are contraindicated [22, 24]. It is clear that patients can thus be freed from over-reliance on conventional pharmacologic therapies [26]. The effectiveness of nonpharmacological interventions is reflected in the following aspects: alleviating the economic burden associated with pharmacological interventions [27], and minimizing the side effects of pharmacological treatments as much as possible [23].

Physical Therapy
In exploring the role of nonpharmacological interventions in cancer pain management, physical therapy (PT) is one of the key components [29]. Physical therapy encompasses the application of physical modalities (e.g., heat, cold, electrical stimulation, sound, radiation) and manual techniques to alleviate pain, improve function, and enhance quality of life [29, 30]. It is particularly valuable when medications are inadequate or contraindicated [22, 24].

Thermotherapy Combined with Radiotherapy
Thermotherapy combined with radiotherapy shows promise for pain relief in metastatic bone disease and local tumor control [31–33]. Studies report significantly higher rates of complete pain remission (e.g., 47.4% vs. 5.3% after two months [32]) and improved quality of life compared to radiotherapy alone [32, 33]. While historically contraindicated in malignancy due to metastasis concerns, controlled thermotherapy combined with radiotherapy demonstrates potential benefits.

Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation
Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS), demonstrates potential for reducing cancer pain, particularly rest pain during radiotherapy for head and neck cancer compared to placebo/no treatment [34, 35]. However, current evidence is insufficient to support its routine use in standard care [16]. Larger, high-quality RCTs are needed to establish efficacy, safety, and optimal protocols across diverse cancer pain types [16].

Scrambler Therapy
Scrambler therapy (ST), a novel neuromodulation technique, showed greater symptom reduction than TENS for chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy(CIPN) in one RCT (60% vs. 25% achieving ≥ 50% symptom score reduction) [36]. Larger trials are required to confirm its efficacy in the future.

Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation
Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) has shown efficacy in reducing pain scores (e.g., VAS, LANSS) and improving quality of life and psychological distress in specific cancer pain syndromes like post-mastectomy pain [37–39]. Effects persisted for at least 15 days post-treatment in some studies [38]. Limitations include small sample sizes, unknown long-term effects, and individual variability [37–39].
Electrical stimulation techniques (TENS, ST, rTMS) represent promising noninvasive neuromodulation approaches for cancer pain. Key limitations include short duration of effect (TENS), lack of standardized protocols (ST), unknown long-term outcomes and individual variability (rTMS), and insufficient high-level evidence for routine use [16, 34–39]. Future research should focus on high-quality clinical trials, innovative equipment and improved technology, optimization of treatment protocols, exploration of individualized treatment strategies, and evaluation of long-term efficacy to fully realize the potential of electrical stimulation therapy in cancer pain management.

Therapeutic Ultrasound
Regional anesthesia techniques (e.g., ultrasound-guided nerve blocks) can reduce postoperative pain and opioid use in breast cancer [40, 41]. Therapeutic ultrasound may offer short-term relief for chemotherapy-related sensory symptoms, but long-term benefits are unclear [42]. Magnetic Resonance-guided High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU) demonstrates significant pain relief and improved quality of life (physical function, fatigue, appetite) in patients with painful bone metastases, representing a valuable non-invasive ablative option [43]. Appropriate randomized controlled trials (RCTs) should be conducted in the future to provide evidence to determine the optimal treatment pathway [43].

Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy
Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy (ESWT) is safe and effective for musculoskeletal pain in patients with cancer, but its use should adhere to ISMST guidelines and be administered by qualified physicians for specific, diagnostically confirmed conditions [44].
Collectively, various physical therapy modalities offer valuable nonpharmacological options for managing advanced cancer pain, demonstrating benefits in pain reduction and quality of life. Physical therapy is clinically important in the treatment of cancer pain, and future research should focus on larger, rigorously designed RCTs to evaluate the efficacy and safety of physical therapy in different populations and types of cancer pain.

Exercise Training
Exercise training is a cornerstone of cancer rehabilitation, widely accepted to improve physical function, mood, and quality of life in survivors [45–48]. A comprehensive exercise program was more effective in reducing pain in cancer patients compared to usual care (SMD = 1.96, 95%CI [−3.47,−0.44]) [47]. Exercise is generally safe when tailored to avoid exacerbating pain [48].
Specific exercise modalities, including aerobic exercise, resistance training, proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation, and progressive resistance training, demonstrate efficacy in reducing cancer-related pain, particularly well-studied in breast cancer [48–51]. For example, heavy resistance training (ANTRAC trial) improved peak pain intensity and pressure pain thresholds in breast cancer survivors [51].
Exercise interventions consistently show benefits for reducing joint pain and improving function in breast cancer survivors during and after treatment [29, 52–58]. Benefits include reduced postoperative pain [54], improved long-term upper extremity function and decreased pain intensity up to 12 months post-surgery [52, 53], and pain relief from aquatic programs [55]. For advanced patients with cancer, physical therapy regimens also demonstrate efficacy in reducing pain alongside fatigue and other comorbidities, enhancing overall health during palliative care [59]. However, challenges exist, including reduced adherence during chemotherapy, linked to symptoms like nausea and pain [60], small sample sizes, high attrition, and heterogeneity in pain assessment limiting comparability and generalizability [60, 61]. The lack of long-term follow-up data makes it difficult to assess the long-term effects of exercise interventions [54, 61].
The benefits of exercise extend beyond breast cancer. Meta-analyses confirm that exercise improves cancer-related fatigue, pain, and insomnia [62]. Targeted exercise programs, such as muscle strengthening, balance exercises, and sensorimotor training, show promise in reducing chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathic (CIPN) pain and improving quality of life [63, 64]. However, the effects on other symptoms (e.g., nausea and appetite) are inconsistent [62].
Exercise training is a valuable strategy for managing cancer-related pain across various cancer types and specific pain syndromes (e.g., CIPN) [63]. Despite the existing research demonstrating the potential benefits of exercise in the management of cancer pain, further research is needed to determine the optimal type, dose, and individualized intervention strategies to improve the efficacy and sustainability of exercise interventions [46, 65].

Psychological Interventions
A systematic review and meta-analysis of 10 RCTs suggested that psychological and nonpharmacological interventions, in addition to pharmacological treatments, should be considered important components of cancer pain management [26]. Psychosocial interventions, including relaxation training, music therapy, cognitive-behavioral therapy, and supportive-expressive group therapy, have shown beneficial effects on pain relief in patients with advanced cancer [66, 67]. These interventions focus on alleviating physical pain and psychological distress by improving patients’ psychological state and coping mechanisms, thereby improving their quality of life [68]. Some studies have shown that psychological interventions, especially group psychological interventions, can be effective in relieving cancer pain and improving patients’ coping styles and quality of life, but the evidence base for individual and low-intensity interventions is not yet adequate [69]. Another study showed that a brief psychological anticipatory intervention (using positive verbal suggestions and sham acupuncture) reduced postoperative pain and increased satisfaction with analgesia in patients after breast cancer surgery [25].
Mindfulness-Based Interventions (MBIs) and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), as important psychological interventions, have been shown to reduce cancer-related pain [68, 70–72]. CBT targets these factors through techniques like cognitive restructuring (identifying and challenging unhelpful pain-related thoughts), behavioral activation/activity pacing, relaxation training, problem-solving skills, and communication training [26, 70]. MBIs primarily work by cultivating non-judgmental present-moment awareness and acceptance of experiences, including pain sensations [72]. This reduces attentional bias towards pain and the “suffering” component associated with resistance to pain, thereby diminishing overall distress. Neurobiological evidence suggests these interventions may modulate pain processing through effects on descending inhibitory pathways (e.g., involving prefrontal cortex, anterior cingulate cortex, periaqueductal gray) and neurotransmitter systems (e.g., endogenous opioids) [70, 73]. Both approaches enhance self-efficacy and equip patients with coping skills to manage pain and its impact more effectively [26, 66, 74].
The brief Cognitive Behavioral Strategies CBS Intervention is effective in reducing Pain, fatigue, and sleep disorder symptom clusters in advanced patients with cancer [74]. Acceptance Commitment Therapy (ACT) [75, 76], as a psychological intervention, has promising applications in the rehabilitation of advanced cancer pain, especially in improving patients’ mental health and quality of life. An integrative approach combining ACT with positive psychology meditation showed promise in improving pain interference and quality of life in chronic pain, suggesting potential applicability in cancer pain [77]. The smartphone technology to alleviate malignant pain (STAMP) + CBT mobile health application developed by Azizoddin et al. was tested in a single-arm pilot study by providing a pain cognitive behavioral therapy course, daily symptom surveys, and immediate adaptive psychoeducational interventions [78]. The feasibility study revealed that it is a feasible and acceptable psychological intervention for patients with advanced cancer pain (73% of patients completed ≥ 50% of daily surveys, 87% of acceptable items ≥ 4/5), which opens a new avenue of psychological intervention for cancer pain and will be further improved and explored [78]. Future research could further explore the direct and indirect effects of psychological interventions on cancer pain, and how to target specific populations for more effective psychological support.
MBIs, such as Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction or adaptations, teach formal practices like focused attention meditation (e.g., on breath), body scan (systematic, non-judgmental observation of bodily sensations), and loving-kindness meditation, alongside informal mindfulness practices integrated into daily activities [77]. The core mechanism involves cultivating non-reactive awareness of present-moment experiences, including pain sensations, reducing the habitual tendency to resist or catastrophize [66, 72]. Multicultural psychosocial interventions often incorporate mindfulness elements alongside CBT for symptom management [68].
These findings suggest that psychological interventions can effectively reduce the pain burden and improve the overall quality of life of patients with cancer, providing empirical support for nonpharmacological rehabilitation of advanced patients with cancer [79]. Future studies should further expand the sample size, improve the methodological quality.

Other Nonpharmacological Interventions
Music interventions is a well-established nonpharmacological intervention used to manage multiple symptoms in patients with cancer, including pain, anxiety [80], stress [81], and mood disturbances [82] during treatment or palliative care. Its analgesic mechanism is thought to involve the stimulation of endogenous opioid release, modulating pain perception and improving emotional state [73, 83]. Importantly, music therapy may also help reduce the need for analgesic medications [80, 84–87]. While evidence supports its benefits, limitations such as study heterogeneity and variable methodological quality warrant cautious interpretation [88]. Evidence suggests that aromatherapy combined with massage may indirectly benefit pain management through synergistic effects [89]. Aromatherapy combined with music therapy has been shown to reduce pain intensity without causing serious adverse effects [81, 90]. Art therapy may alleviate cancer pain through distraction and emotional expression, but the current strength of evidence is limited by study heterogeneity and methodological shortcomings [91–93]. These nonpharmacological therapies are valuable adjunctive strategies because they are safe, inexpensive, and highly accepted by patients, especially in settings with limited resources or in palliative care [81, 83, 89–94].

Effects of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine Rehabilitation on Cancer Pain
Notably, integrating Chinese and Western medicine in the rehabilitation of cancer pain is a more comprehensive and personalized treatment modality that achieves complementarity through evidence-based treatment to achieve better efficacy, and the dynamic evolution of this research direction underscores its importance and necessity in the field of contemporary medicine [10]. Acupuncture combined with medication, they can relieve pain, improve the patient’s condition, and reduce the side effects of medication [95]. Electroacupuncture combines traditional acupuncture with modern electrophysiological techniques to enhance the therapeutic effect of electric current stimulation, regulate the activity of the nervous system, promote the release of endogenous opioid peptides and other analgesic substances, and exert analgesic effects [96–98]. Compared with drug therapy alone, acupuncture combined with drug therapy increased the pain relief rate, shortened the onset of analgesia, prolonged the pain-free duration, and improved the quality of life, and no serious adverse events were reported [95, 99–101]. Both electroacupuncture and auricular acupuncture are effective in reducing chronic musculoskeletal pain, improving quality of life, and reducing analgesic use in cancer survivors; however, auricular acupuncture is less well tolerated and its efficacy is less pronounced than that of electroacupuncture [96, 102]. In addition, TENS may reduce pain scores in patients with cancer-related pain treated with chronic opioids [97, 98]. Future studies need more high-quality, multicenter, large-sample RCTs to validate the specific efficacy of acupuncture in cancer pain management. In addition, massage therapy, as described in TCM, may be effective in relieving short-term pain in patients with cancer, but the quality of evidence is low and more high-quality studies are needed for further validation [103, 104]. Tai Chi has also shown positive effects in breast patients with cancer, particularly in improving quality of life, pain, shoulder function, arm strength, anxiety and fatigue [105–108].

Discussion
Our findings align with key recent guidelines and reviews advocating multimodal approaches, yet extend the discourse by specifically evaluating rehabilitation-centric strategies. The SICO-ASCO guideline [13] recommends mindfulness and acupuncture for pain control but provides limited detail on exercise dosing or physical therapy modalities. Similarly, the ESMO [8] emphasizes interventional techniques (e.g., nerve blocks) for refractory pain but underrepresents psychological interventions. Notably, a Cochrane review on non-pharmacological therapies [109] corroborates our observation that evidence for TENS remains low-quality due to protocol heterogeneity, which is systematically mapped in our review. Where prior reviews focused on symptom clusters [74] or specific modalities [46], our work uniquely synthesizes evidence across rehabilitation domains (physical, exercise, psychological) to propose an integrated framework for advanced cancer pain.
Despite the progress made in recent years in pharmacologic and nonpharmacological interventions for advanced cancer pain, many research gaps and directions still need to be explored. Key implementation challenges persist. First, the heterogeneity in the intervention protocols (TENS frequency ranges from 2 to 100 Hz across studies [34, 35]) limits clinical generalizability. Second, cost-effectiveness data for nonpharmacological modalities remain sparse, particularly in low-resource settings [110, 111]. Finally, the long-term efficacy and sustainability of many nonpharmacological interventions remain inadequately documented due to limited follow-up durations in existing studies [54, 61, 111, 112]. Addressing these challenges requires multifaceted implementation strategies. To combat protocol heterogeneity, future research must prioritize the development and validation of standardized intervention protocols through large, methodologically rigorous trials. Concurrently, clinical guideline development should incorporate these findings to provide clearer practice parameters. Cost-effectiveness analyses must be urgently integrated into future research agendas, especially for interventions deemed feasible in resource-limited settings. Tailored adherence support strategies such as flexible scheduling, symptom management co-interventions, and telemedicine options (as preliminarily explored with mHealth apps like STAMP + CBT [78]) are also critical. Crucially, embedding nonpharmacological interventions within a truly multidisciplinary collaborative framework involving oncologists, pain specialists, physical therapists, palliative care physicians, psychologists, nurses, and rehabilitation specialists is paramount for comprehensive assessment, personalized multimodal plan development, coordinated delivery, and overcoming fragmented care. This review has limitations. First, narrative synthesis may introduce selection bias. Second, non-English studies were excluded, potentially omitting regional innovations. While our exclusion of non-English publications ensures methodological consistency, it may underrepresent region-specific innovations; future systematic reviews should target these sources.

Conclusion
This review systematically summarizes the latest research advances in the rehabilitation of advanced cancer pain patients, particularly the potential of nonpharmacological intervention methods for relieving pain and improving their psychological status and quality of life. The WHO three-step analgesic regimen remains central to cancer pain management, but its limitations have led researchers to explore more multimodal analgesic strategies [113]. Future research should prioritize multicenter RCTs with standardized protocols (e.g., CONSORT-NPT extension) to evaluate long-term efficacy (≥ 12 months) and patient-reported outcomes (PROs) such as functional independence and psychosocial well-being. Long-term follow-up and evaluation of more medication options are also needed to assess the effects of different pain management strategies fully. Cost-effectiveness is also a direction of interest, especially in low-resource settings, in order to assess the economic feasibility and scalability of non-pharmacologic interventions alongside clinical outcomes.

Key References

Wang J, Lv M, Li H, Guo D, Chu X. Effects of Exercise in Adults With Cancer Pain: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-Analysis. J Pain Symptom Manage 2024:S0885-3924(24)00990-4. 10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2024.08.033.○ This recent network meta-analysis directly compared the efficacy of different exercise modalities for patients with cancer-related pain, providing the highest level of evidence-based support for selecting optimal exercise regimens in clinical practice. The analysis highlights the pivotal role of exercise training in multimodal rehabilitation.

Azizoddin DR, DeForge SM, Baltazar A, Edwards RR, Allsop M, Tulsky JA, et al. Development and pre-pilot testing of STAMP + CBT: an mHealth app combining pain cognitive behavioral therapy and opioid support for patients with advanced cancer and pain. Support Care Cancer Off J Multinatl Assoc Support Care Cancer 2024;32:123. 10.1007/s00520-024-08307-7.○ This study is pioneering the integration of mobile health technology with cognitive behavioural therapy, representing a new direction for digital medicine in pain rehabilitation.

Mao JJ, Ismaila N, Bao T, Barton D, Ben-Arye E, Garland EL, et al. Integrative Medicine for Pain Management in Oncology: Society for Integrative Oncology-ASCO Guideline. J Clin Oncol Off J Am Soc Clin Oncol 2022;40:3998–4024. 10.1200/JCO.22.01357.○ This guideline formally incorporates non-pharmacological therapies such as mindfulness and acupuncture into the standard recommendations for cancer pain management.

Paice JA, Bohlke K, Barton D, Craig DS, El-Jawahri A, Hershman DL, et al. Use of Opioids for Adults With Pain From Cancer or Cancer Treatment: ASCO Guideline. J Clin Oncol Off J Am Soc Clin Oncol 2023;41:914–30. 10.1200/JCO.22.02198.○ As the latest guideline from the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), it introduces significant updates to the WHO three-step principle, emphasizing the refined management and risk-benefit balance of opioid use. This document stands as the authoritative guide for cancer pain medication treatment today.

Cuthbert C, Twomey R, Bansal M, Rana B, Dhruva T, Livingston V, et al. The role of exercise for pain management in adults living with and beyond cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Support Care Cancer Off J Multinatl Assoc Support Care Cancer 2023;31:254. 10.1007/s00520-023-07716-4.○ This study consolidates evidence supporting the efficacy of exercise training for managing cancer pain, and provides strong support for incorporating exercise as a routine addition to analgesic therapy.

○ The study also encompasses a broader population of cancer survivors.

Kwekkeboom K, Zhang Y, Campbell T, Coe CL, Costanzo E, Serlin RC, et al. Randomized controlled trial of a brief cognitive-behavioral strategies intervention for the pain, fatigue, and sleep disturbance symptom cluster in advanced cancer. Psychooncology 2018;27:2761–9. 10.1002/pon.4883.○ This trial demonstrated that a concise CBS intervention effectively alleviates the common symptom cluster of pain, fatigue, and sleep disturbances in patients with advanced cancer.

Streckmann F, Elter T, Lehmann HC, Baurecht H, Nazarenus T, Oschwald V, et al. Preventive Effect of Neuromuscular Training on Chemotherapy-Induced Neuropathy: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Intern Med 2024;184:1046–53. 10.1001/jamainternmed.2024.2354.○ This randomised controlled trial (RCT), which was published in a top-tier journal, provides the first evidence to confirm the efficacy of neuromuscular training in preventing chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN). By expanding the scope of exercise interventions from treatment to prevention, it has significant implications for improving the experience of cancer treatment.

Lyu Z, Tian S, Bao G, Huang R, Gong L, Zhou J, et al. Transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation for cancer-related pain management in patients receiving chronic opioid therapy: a randomized clinical trial. Support Care Cancer Off J Multinatl Assoc Support Care Cancer 2023;32:16. 10.1007/s00520-023-08240-1.○ This study provides high-quality RCT evidence for transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation (TEAS), a therapy integrating traditional Chinese medicine theory with modern technology. It demonstrates TEAS’s adjunctive analgesic value in cancer pain patients receiving opioid therapy, thereby advancing the application of integrated Chinese and Western medicine rehabilitation.

Bradt J, Leader A, Worster B, Myers-Coffman K, Bryl K, Biondo J, et al. Music Therapy for Pain Management for People With Advanced Cancer: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Psychooncology 2024;33:e70005. 10.1002/pon.70005.○ This trial further validates the efficacy of music therapy in managing advanced cancer pain, providing new compelling evidence for this safe, well-tolerated non-pharmacological intervention, particularly suitable for palliative care settings.

Mestdagh F, Arnaud Steyaert, Lavand’homme P. Cancer Pain Management: A Narrative Review of Current Concepts, Strategies, and Techniques. Curr Oncol Tor Ont 2023;30:6838–58. 10.3390/curroncol30070500.○ This study provides a clear overview of modern concepts and multimodal strategies in cancer pain management. It covers a wide range of approaches, from pharmacotherapy and interventional techniques to non-pharmacological interventions. It offers readers a concise introduction to the field and a framework for clinical practice.