title: Breakthrough pain: assessment and management in cancer patients.
abstract: This article provides an overview of breakthrough pain in cancer patients, what causes it, current treatment options and the impact it has on individuals. It considers the importance of accurate assessment, the use of assessment tools and the growing role of nurses in managing this challenging pain syndrome. The article aims to open the debate on the need for new choices in pain management. While many advances have been made in the treatment of pain, there is still room for improvement in both the pharmaceutical and general management of the condition. Suggestions are made as to how these may be met.
authors.affiliation: Prince and Princess of Wales Hospice, Glasgow, Scotland, UK.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: McMillan
mesh_terms: D000700:Analgesics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications*; D024802:Nurse's Role; D009730:Nursing Assessment / Q000379:methods*; D010146:Pain / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology; D059408:Pain Management; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000379:methods*; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D015995:Prevalence; D011788:Quality of Life
chemical_list: D000700:Analgesics