The unheard pain: why patient-related barriers remain the weakest link in cancer pain management

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Patient-related barriers significantly hinder effective cancer pain management, often treated as secondary rather than core issues.
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Barriers include fear of addiction, adverse effects, limited communication, and insufficient knowledge, shaped by cultural and emotional factors.
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These barriers should be viewed as interpretive-relational, arising from interactions between personal beliefs and health system limitations.
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Effective cancer pain care requires routine assessment of barriers, culturally sensitive communication, and individualized education.
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The article advocates for a shift from a prescription-centered approach to a relational model that addresses patient fears and communication gaps.

Frontiers In Pain Research

by Aleixandre Brian Duche-Pérez, Fiorela Candy Ticona Apaza, Valerio Teodoro Ticona Apaza, Miguel Ángel Alarcón Carrasco
June 11, 2026

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