Opioids in context: relieving the pain of cancer. The role of comprehensive cancer management.
Optimal pain control requires detailed appraisal of each symptom; in many cases definitive treatment of the underlying cause will be the most effective means of pain control. As an example back pain may be due not only to bone metastases but also enlarging lymph nodes, renal pain or retroperitoneal tumour. Benign causes including degenerative joint disease should also be considered and each cause treated specifically alongside the use of analgesics.
Mount Vernon Cancer Centre, Northwood, Middlesex, UK. peterhoskin@nhs.net
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Hoskin
D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001859:Bone Neoplasms / Q000556:secondary*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control; D008297:Male; D010148:Intractable Pain / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*
D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal