Cancer pain management: Strategies for safe and effective opioid prescribing

Abstract

Although controversial in recent years, the use of opioid analgesics is a fundamental component of the management of patients with malignant pain. Decisions about whether to initiate opioid therapy require comprehensive patient assessment and a great deal of compassion, with an eye toward achieving a safety balance among patients, prescribers, and the community. At the NCCN 21st Annual Conference, Judith Paice, PhD, RN, reviewed the basics of pain assessment, the dangers of undertreatment and overtreatment, goals of pain management, and practical strategies for navigating through the continuum of pain and substance abuse.