Pain is one of the most common symptoms among cancer patients. About 60%-80% of patients with advanced cancer suffer from pain. Cancer pain can cause or aggravate physical symptoms, and can also cause psychological burden, which directly affects patients' quality of life. Cancer pain is a global public health problem. The World Health Organization (WHO) has set a strategic task to relief pain and its painful symptoms to overcome cancer. In 1986, the WHO proposed a three-step treatment regime for cancer pain, which made great progress in cancer pain control, but still about 20% of cancer patients suffer from pain. Poor pain management, which also poses new challenges for clinically effective treatment of cancer pain, especially for patients with advanced cancer. The United States National Cancer Network (NCCN) lists the cancer pain management as an important part of cancer control. Furthermore, cancer pain management is integrated into the comprehensive treatment of cancer in almost all countries worldwide. Paying attention to the influence of pain on cancer patients is important to oncologists. Knowing how to manage cancer pain effectively are essential skills for clinical stuff. In modern era, new progresses and new challenges have emerged in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer pain. This article will give a summary of the challenges and recent advances of cancer pain in recent years.