title: Breakthrough cancer pain: a comparison of surveys with European and Canadian patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Breakthrough cancer pain is defined as a transient exacerbation of pain that occurs spontaneously or in response to a trigger, despite stable and controlled background pain. Breakthrough pain often causes significant functional impairments for patients and can decrease quality of life.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The objective of the study was to determine differences between breakthrough cancer pain incidence and management in Canada and Europe.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data collected from previous studies of breakthrough cancer pain in Canada and Europe was compared. A standard survey with identical inclusion/exclusion criteria was utilized for both patient populations.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Both groups of patients had a similar number and duration of breakthrough pain episodes, and similar pain intensity and pain interference with their daily activities. European patients reported better analgesic efficacy and satisfaction with management, and a greater percentage of European patients were prescribed a transmucosal fentanyl formulation (19.1 vs 2.9 %). More European patients (55 %) than Canadian patients (32.5 %) took their rescue medication every time they had a breakthrough pain episode.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Breakthrough cancer pain in both Canadian and European patients greatly impacts their daily living, and both groups of patients had similar experiences with breakthrough cancer pain. Currently, this pain is not adequately managed for many patients. The role for new analgesic treatments in management of breakthrough cancer pain needs further study.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, Odette Cancer Centre, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, University of Toronto, 2075 Bayview Avenue, Toronto, ON, M4N3M5, Canada.
authors.forename: Gillian
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bedard
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Davies
authors.forename: Rachel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: McDonald
authors.forename: Philippa
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hawley
authors.forename: Alison
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Buchanan
authors.forename: Marko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Popovic
authors.forename: Erin
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: Edward
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Chow
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000008:administration & dosage; D059390:Breakthrough Pain / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology*; D002170:Canada / Q000453:epidemiology; D003625:Data Collection; D005060:Europe / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D005283:Fentanyl / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D059408:Pain Management / Q000379:methods*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D011788:Quality of Life
chemical_list: D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D005283:Fentanyl