PALPRAC

Cancer Pain: Assessing, Managing, and Understanding Total Pain

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Short course

Course type

2 hours

Study time

Online

Mode of learning

3 CPD points

3 Clinical
(70% average required)

Course overview

Cancer-related pain remains one of the most common and distressing symptoms faced by patients - yet it is still often under-recognised and under-treated. In this short course, we explore the multidimensional nature of cancer pain, including its physical, psychological, social, and spiritual components - also known as Total Pain.

Designed for doctors, nurses, and non-palliative care specialists, this practical module will guide you through the key principles of cancer pain assessment and management, combining clinical tools, pharmacological strategies, and supportive care approaches. Whether you’re at the bedside or in clinic, this course aims to strengthen your confidence and compassion in caring for patients living with serious illness and pain.
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Who is this course for?

South African Doctors, Interns, Nurses and Pharmacists

Required qualification

The necessary healthcare qualifications for doctors, nurses and pharmacists (or students of these)

Course level

This course is aimed at a Beginner-Intermediate Level. 

Develop your professional skills

Why choose this course?

The Learning Objectives of this course include being able to:

  1. Understand the different types and causes of cancer-related pain, including nociceptive, neuropathic, and incident pain
  2. Explain the concept of Total Pain and recognise its physical, psychological, social, and spiritual dimensions
  3. Conduct a structured assessment of cancer pain using tools like PQRST, numerical scales, and the Brief Pain Inventory (BPI)
  4. Apply the principles of the WHO pain ladder and choose appropriate pharmacological treatments based on pain severity
  5. Recognise when and how to use weak versus strong opioids, including strategies for breakthrough pain and opioid titration
  6. Integrate non-pharmacological approaches into cancer pain management, including physical, psychological, and complementary therapies
  7. Reflect on a case-based scenario to consolidate knowledge and apply a patient-centred approach to complex pain management

About the academic institution

PALPRAC is a national network of healthcare professionals dedicated to improving quality of life for people living with serious illness. Founded in 2018, we bring together doctors, nurses, and allied health professionals to deliver compassionate, person-centred palliative care across South Africa. Through education, advocacy, and collaboration, we equip multidisciplinary teams to relieve suffering, support dignity, and honour what matters most to patients and their families. We support healthcare professionals to be change agents in their own settings, and we engage with the wider health system to drive the changes needed to ensure everyone has access to quality palliative care. All healthcare professionals are welcome to join, with membership options to suit every role and level of experience.

Over 300 members

Various healthcare providers 

Spread across South Africa

PALPRAC contact info

  info@palprac.org

Follow PALRAC on social media

Course Lessons

  • Certificate included

    Upon successful completion of this course - including achieving a minimum score of 70% in the assessment(s), as required by the HPCSA - you will receive a certificate of completion from PALPRAC, a name synonymous with excellence in professional development.

 

Course developer

Palliative Care Practitioner
Dr Charmaine Blanchard
Dr Charmaine Blanchard is a highly respected medical doctor and palliative care specialist based in Johannesburg, South Africa. With a passion for compassionate, person-centred care, she provides accessible and affordable home-based palliative services through a multidisciplinary approach that prioritises dignity, communication, and quality of life.

Holding both a Postgraduate Diploma in Palliative Medicine (Paediatrics) and an MPhil in Palliative Medicine (Adults), Dr Blanchard brings extensive academic and clinical expertise to her work. She is also a senior lecturer and researcher in Palliative and Supportive Care at the Strengthening Oncology Services Research Unit at the University of the Witwatersrand, where she contributes to advancing the field through teaching and research.

Her special interests include improving communication in oncology and strengthening palliative care education across disciplines. Dr Blanchard is committed to equipping healthcare professionals with the tools and insight they need to deliver truly holistic care to patients and families facing serious illness.
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