Cancer breakthrough pain in the presence of cancer-related chronic pain: fact versus perceptions of health-care providers and patients.
Cancer breakthrough pain is a flare in pain that "breaks through" well-controlled persistent cancer pain. Although the condition is highly prevalent, the concept of cancer breakthrough pain is not well understood and is therefore underdiagnosed and undertreated. The purpose of this review is to examine the roles the health-care practitioner and patient/family caregiver play in the undertreatment of breakthrough pain. A lack of technical knowledge about pain management and pain assessment, attitudes about opioid addiction, and regulatory guidelines influence the manner in which opioids are prescribed. Patients harbor a variety of fears and misconceptions, such as opioid addiction, tolerance, side effects, and the meaning of pain, which can create a barrier to effective communication with their health-care provider regarding their cancer pain management and specifically their breakthrough pain. Identifying these issues gives health-care professionals and patients an opportunity to develop strategies that can improve the treatment of cancer breakthrough pain.
Pallgesia Associates, P.O. Box 8127, Alta Loma, CA 91737, USA. pallcarern@hotmail.com
Michelle I
MI
Rhiner
Charles F
CF
von Gunten
D002908:Chronic Disease; D006282:Health Personnel; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000503:physiopathology*; D010148:Intractable Pain / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010465:Perception