Approaching the 2018 CPRC Annual Meeting

About 10 years ago, I admitted to myself that I was interested in treating pain. In spine surgery, that was not a popular field, but I found the impetus to reduce pain and suffering compelling – particularly when it involved pain caused by cancer or its treatment. As a neurosurgeon, I had a lot to offer these patients.

Embarking on this journey, I rapidly discovered that I was not alone.

There were many, special health care providers who shared that drive to help cancer patients, and they came from various disciplines in medicine − and then came the frustration.

With few exceptions, each discipline operated in a silo, with little interaction or even awareness of the other involved specialists. This lack of communication and coordination clearly impeded the relief we all sought for our patients. So, together with a group of talented, generous and passionate colleagues, I founded the Cancer Pain Research Consortium, bringing all of these disparate specialties together, to share, debate and improve our ability to treat people in pain from cancer.

It is a privilege to be part of this group. Informing and challenging each other, disseminating information and options to patients and caregivers alike, there are today people whose suffering is lessened through the activities of the Consortium.

As the Cancer Pain Research Consortium continues to grow and develop, I am excited to be a witness to the impact it will have, all in the service of reducing pain and suffering.

William S. Rosenberg, MD, FAANS
Center for the Relief of Pain
Past President & Founder, Cancer Pain Research Consortium
President-Elect, AANS/CNS Joint Section on Pain