The ideal mode of palliation (symptom control) is the removal or minimisation of the cause (. disease-directed therapies). For example, in malignant bone pain, surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy and/or bisphosphonates may be used. For an infection, antimicrobials or surgical drainage of an abscess may be required. Alongside disease directed therapy, there are a host of pharmacological and non-pharmacological therapies, which should be used on an individual basis depending on the specific clinical situation. Cancer pain management remains an area where, in selected difficult cases, destructive neurosurgical procedures can be appropriate because the limited life expectancy minimises the risk of secondary deafferentation.
