6533b822fe1ef96bd127cea8

RESEARCH PRODUCT

Breakthrough Cancer Pain: Ten Commandments

Arturo CuomoSebastiano Mercadante

subject

medicine.medical_specialtybusiness.industryHealth PolicyBreakthrough PainPublic Health Environmental and Occupational HealthAlternative medicineCancer PainPharmacological treatment03 medical and health sciences0302 clinical medicine030220 oncology & carcinogenesisAnesthesiaHumansPain ManagementMedicineIn patientDosingbusinessCancer painIntensive care medicineRelevant information030217 neurology & neurosurgery

description

The term "breakthrough cancer pain" (BTcP) was introduced about 25 years ago. Peaks of pain intensity reported in patients with cancer had been invariably examined in the past years, providing relevant information for a better knowledge of this phenomenon and its treatment. The aim of this critical review was to provide the golden rules, namely, the 10 commandments, for a correct diagnostic pathway of BTcP and a consequent personalized pharmacological treatment. These are as follows: 1) assessment of background analgesia, 2) drugs used for background analgesia, 3) BTcP is a frequent phenomenon, 4) characteristics of BTcP, 5) diagnosis of BTcP, 6) continuous assessment, 7) tailored pharmacological treatment of BTcP, 8) selection of BTcP medication, 9) dosing BTcP medications, and 10) education. These steps may help clinicians to recognize and treat BTcP adequately.

yearjournalcountryeditionlanguage
2016-07-01Value in Health
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jval.2016.03.002