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Project

Development and validation of a screening tool for central sensitisation pain in cancer survivors

In addition to fatigue, pain is the most common frequent persistent symptom in cancer survivors. Pain following cancer leads to poor quality of life and impaired daily functioning. Identifying the origin or mechanism of the pain is a critical step in clinical decision-making. Awareness on the presence of so called central sensitisation pain in cancer survivors has increased past decades. In this case pain can be explained by enhanced processing of nociception (sensitization) within the peripheral and/or central nervous system and by altered pain modulation. Central sensitization pain relies on different mechanisms than typical nociceptive and neuropathic pain and therefore warrants a different treatment strategy. Unfortunately, up to now, no validated tool for the identification of central sensitization pain in daily clinical practice is available. Therefore, the aim of the proposed project is to develop a tool for the identification of central sensitisation pain in cancer survivors with persistent pain several months after finishing treatment. First, the tool will be developed and validated in a cohort of cancer survivors with persistent pain recruited in a hospital setting. Second, pilot testing to prepare a large-scale validation study in a non-hospital setting will be performed. The present project will be an important step in improving pain management in cancer survivors with persistent pain.
Date:1 Oct 2018 →  30 Sep 2021
Keywords:CANCER
Disciplines:Morphological sciences, Neurosciences, Oncology, Orthopaedics, Human movement and sports sciences, Rehabilitation sciences, Biological and physiological psychology, Cognitive science and intelligent systems, Developmental psychology and ageing
Project type:Collaboration project