Cancer is increasing in incidence and prevalence in the United Kingdom. Pain is the most frequent complication of cancer and cancer pain control is frequently suboptimal. Previous research has established several potentially modifiable reasons for suboptimal cancer pain management. These include: under-reporting of pain; inadequate communication about pain between patients and health care professionals ; inadequate assessment of pain by health care providers; inadequate analgesic prescribing; suboptimal adherence to prescribed analgesic regimens by patients; and failure to re-assess pain timeously.