Mission Statement 

"To promote optimum pain relief for all people with cancer"
       

     Values Underlying our Mission:

• Compassion
• Empathy
• Advocacy/Empowerment
• Equal access to pain relief
• Dignity
• Collaboration
• Recognition of excellence in pain management

     Our Beliefs about Pain Include:

• Pain is subjective and individual experience
• Pain relief is also a subjective and individual experience
• Pain impacts quality of life including physical, emotional, psychological, social, cultural and spiritual aspects
• Pain extends beyond the person experiencing it to affect families and friends
• Pain kills

     Our Beliefs about the Treatment of Pain Include:

• Current systems of care often fail to provide optimum pain relief
• Professionals need to assess the level of pain and pain relief
• Patients, health care professionals and the public need education about pain 
• Pain treatment should be interdisciplinary
• Pain treatment/relief is a human right
• Pain treatment should recognize the individual patient experience
• Family members should be included in the pain management plan
• Symptom management (i.e. sleep and mood disturbance, fatigue, constipation) must accompany pain management.

      3/2006