Pharmacologic Management of Cancer-Related Pain, Dyspnea, and Nausea

Patients with cancer often face significant distress from their symptoms, especially near the end of life. However, prompt palliation of these symptoms can be complex since symptoms may occur in clusters, may be cancer- or treatment-related, and frequently require a multidisciplinary approach to management and a combination of therapeutic regimens. While evidence for many conventional symptom treatments is lacking, an increasing number of randomized clinical trials in palliative oncology means that new treatments will become increasingly evidence-based. Herein, we provide a brief overview and update of current and new strategies for the pharmacologic management of cancer-related pain, dyspnea, and nausea, which are three of the most prevalent treatable symptoms in advanced cancer.