Analgesic Ladder Approach

The cancer analgesic ladder was developed by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 1986 and ratified in 1996 to guide clinicians treating cancer pain. Initially created for resource-poor countries, the cancer analgesic ladder remains a cornerstone of modern pain medicine. The easy to navigate, four-step approach begins with the use of NSAIDs and acetaminophen, progresses to the use of opioid analgesics, and eventually leads to surgical intervention.