Expert Consensus on TCM Diagnostic and Therapeutic Standards for Chronic Cancer Pain

Abstract

Chronic cancer pain is a common symptom in patients with advanced tumors, which seriously affects their quality of life and easily causes anxiety and fear. In recent years, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has made remarkable progress in the treatment of chronic cancer pain. To improve the clinical efficacy and standardization of TCM in treating cancer pain, with reference to a number of existing guidelines and in accordance with the principles of evidence-based medicine, a preliminary plan for the TCM diagnostic and therapeutic standards for chronic cancer pain was formulated through systematic retrieval and integration of relevant literature. After expert consultation and three rounds of voting using the Delphi method, the final consensus was established. Its content covers the terminology, etiology and pathogenesis, principles of syndrome differentiation and treatment, TCM internal treatment, TCM external treatment, and other appropriate TCM techniques for chronic cancer pain.