Abstract
The undertreatment of cancer pain remains a significant clinical problem. Of note, large variability exists in pain among individuals. inadequately controlled pain results in unnecessary suffering and a diminished ability to tolerate primary cancer therapy. new drug formulations and delivery systems are under development, and new approaches are required to individualize pain management. Oncology nurses must become acquainted with new strategies to manage cancer pain, including opioid rotation; understand the importance of balancing side effects; recognize potential misuse; and provide effective pain control. The purpose of the symposium “Practical Approaches to Optimizing the Effective use of Opioids in cancer Pain” was to enhance oncology nurses’ understanding of strategies to optimize the management of cancer pain, particularly the use of opioid analgesics. in this supplement, which reviews the content of that symposium, Oscar de leon-casasola, mD, professor and the vice chair for clinical affairs in the Department of Anesthesiology at the university of Buffalo and the chief of pain medicine and professor at roswell Park cancer institute in Buffalo, ny, reviews the basic principles of implementing opioid therapy in patients with cancer. According to de leon-casasola, managing cancer pain is a challenging endeavor that requires an understanding of not only the etiologies of cancer but also the types of pain they produce. He explains that opioid rotation may be useful for opening the therapeutic window and establishing a more advantageous analgesic/toxicity ratio in patients with cancer. side effects associated with opioid therapy significantly contribute to patient reluctance to follow cancer treatment plans. Also in this supplement, issues in side-effect management are Christine Miaskowski, RN, PhD, FAAN Proceedings of a symposium held in conjunction with the Oncology Nursing Society 32nd Annual Congress, Las Vegas, NV, April 2007
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