Cancer-Related Pain Management and the Optimal Use of Opioids

Paulo Reis-Pina; Peter G. Lawlor; António Barbosa

doi:10.20344/amp.5801

Cancer-Related Pain Management and the Optimal Use of Opioids

Authors

Paulo Reis-Pina Palliative Care Unit. Casa de Saúde da Idanha. Sintra. Portugal.
Peter G. Lawlor Bruyère Research Institute. Bruyère Continuing Care. Ottawa. Ontario. Canada. Division of Palliative Care. Department of Medicine, Epidemiology and Community Medicine. University of Ottawa. Ottawa. Ontario. Canada. The Ottawa Hospital Research Institute. Ottawa. Ontario. Canada. Faculdade de Medicina. Universidade de Lisboa. Lisbon. Portugal.
António Barbosa Department of Psychiatry. Hospital de Santa Maria. Centro Hospitalar Lisboa Central, EPE. Lisbon. Portugal. Bioethics and Palliative Care Centre. Faculdade de Medicina. Universidade de Lisboa. Lisbon. Portugal.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.20344/amp.5801

Keywords:

Analgesics, Opioid, Neoplasms/complications, Pain/drug therapy, Pain Measurement, Palliative Care.

Abstract

Pain relief is vital to the treatment of cancer. Despite the widespread use and recognition of clinical recommendations for the management of cancer-related pain, avoidable suffering is still prevalent in patients with malignant disease. A gap exists between what is known about pain medical management and actual practices of patients, caregivers, healthcare professionals and institutions. Opioids are the pillar of the medical management of moderate to severe pain. The prescription of opioid analgesics – by a registered medical practitioner for absolute pain control – is a legitimate practice. In this article we look at patients’ fears and physicians’ general
hesitations towards morphine and alike. We examine misconceptions that yield fallacies on the therapeutically use of opioids and, therefore, sustain inadequate pain management.

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Author Biography

Paulo Reis-Pina, Palliative Care Unit. Casa de Saúde da Idanha. Sintra. Portugal.

Ex-Médico da Unidade de Dor do IPOLFG, EPE

Ex-Médico da Equipa de Cuidados Paliativos do IPOLFG, EPE

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Published

2015-06-08

How to Cite

Reis-Pina P, Lawlor PG, Barbosa A. Cancer-Related Pain Management and the Optimal Use of Opioids. Acta Med Port [Internet]. 2015 Jun. 8 [cited 2024 Nov. 24];28(3):376-81. Available from: https://actamedicaportuguesa.com/revista/index.php/amp/article/view/5801

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Issue

Vol. 28 No. 3 (2015): May-June

Section

Review Articles

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