Marcin Chwistek

Funding information National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (R01DE033647 and R01DE032501) and DOD Peer Reviewed Cancer Research Program (DOD W81WH2210723). Y., Chwistek, M., Gong, Z., Uzonwanne, V., Shi, X., & Szallasi, A. (2026). Cancer pain: current practice and emerging targets. British Journal of Pharmacology, 1–27.

A review of current, evolving, and needed strategies for treating cancer patients living with chronic pain The recent decade brought significant advances in the treatment of cancer which, in turn, had profound effects on the clinical practice of oncology. Two out of three people diagnosed with cancer can now expect to live at least 5 years after diagnosis and many live with cancer as a chronic disease.

“He sounded harsh,” my wife said after she hung up the phone with her physician. In the office, she had found her physician compassionate and warm. But on the phone that day, she felt that the physician was distant and regimented. “Like a soldier,” she said. That rang true as the visit was efficient: prescriptions were renewed, symptoms assessed, and tests ordered. “Perhaps, you are just not used to talking to with your doctor on the phone?” I offered. She shrugged, not convinced.