Onkológia 1/2017

Breakthrough cancer pain

Background cancer pain is a continuous persistent pain associated with cancer. Breakthrough pain is defined as a sudden and short-term transient flare of pain in patients treated with opioids with the pain being well controlled. The Society of palliative medicine of Great Britain and Ireland defines breakthrough cancer pain as a transitory exacerbation of pain that occurs either spontaneously or in relation to a specific predictable or unpredictable trigger at a relatively stable and well-controlled pain. The article deals with the treatment of breakthrough cancer pain. It points out the advantages but also the possible pitfalls of using IR fentanyl from the perspective of a pain physician.

Keywords: management of cancer pain treatment, breakthrough pain, IR fentanyl, syndrome of opioid induced neurotoxicity, hyperalgesia