open access
Current controversies in the assessment and management of breakthrough cancer pain
- Consultant in Palliative Medicine, Royal Surrey County Hospital
open access
Abstract
Breakthrough cancer pain is a common phenomenon, which is associated with a significant impact on quality of life. Management of BTcP is often suboptimal, and this reflects the heterogeneous nature of BTcP, and the often standardised (rather than individualized) management of BTcP. This article reviews national / international guidelines relating to BTcP, and highlights the ongoing controversies, such as the definition, diagnosis, and management of BTcP. However, many of these guidelines agree on the fundamental aspects of the management, and specifically about the important role of so-called “rapid onset opioids”.
Abstract
Breakthrough cancer pain is a common phenomenon, which is associated with a significant impact on quality of life. Management of BTcP is often suboptimal, and this reflects the heterogeneous nature of BTcP, and the often standardised (rather than individualized) management of BTcP. This article reviews national / international guidelines relating to BTcP, and highlights the ongoing controversies, such as the definition, diagnosis, and management of BTcP. However, many of these guidelines agree on the fundamental aspects of the management, and specifically about the important role of so-called “rapid onset opioids”.
Keywords
cancer
Title
Current controversies in the assessment and management of breakthrough cancer pain
Journal
Palliative Medicine in Practice
Issue
Article type
Review paper
Pages
139-143
Published online
2017-05-19
Page views
350
Article views/downloads
1002
Bibliographic record
Medycyna Paliatywna w Praktyce 2016;10(4):139-143.
Keywords
cancer
Authors
Andrew Davies