Abstract
The involvement of anesthesiologists with the palliative care team of Kanazawa University Hospital is discussed. Cooperation between professionals from many disciplines is indispensable for treatment of total pain in cancer patients. In conducting specialist pain treatment, such as intravenous patient-controlled analgesia (PCA), intrathecal analgesia, and ultrasound-guided peripheral nerve block, anesthesiologists cooperate with other doctors, including psychiatrists, to ease bone tumor pain, as well as the other physical and psychiatric symptoms of cancer patients. Supportive communication is important to treat spiritual pain. Anesthesiologists can strengthen mutual communication with other healthcare professionals by having the right attitude and obtaining the skills related to supportive communication. Education for medical students to help them understand the significance of palliative medicine is also important.
