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Breakthrough cancer pain: a comparison of surveys with European and Canadian patients

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Abstract

Introduction

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.

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Conflict of interest

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiation Oncology, Odette Cancer Centre, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, University of Toronto, 2075 Bayview Avenue, Toronto, ON, M4N3M5, Canada

    Gillian Bedard, Rachel McDonald, Marko Popovic, Erin Wong & Edward Chow

  2. Royal Surrey County Hospital, Guildford, Surrey, UK

    Andrew Davies & Alison Buchanan

  3. Palliative Medicine, BC Cancer Agency, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada

    Philippa Hawley

Authors
  1. Gillian Bedard
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  2. Andrew Davies
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  3. Rachel McDonald
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  4. Philippa Hawley
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  5. Alison Buchanan
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  6. Marko Popovic
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  7. Erin Wong
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  8. Edward Chow
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Edward Chow.

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Bedard, G., Davies, A., McDonald, R. et al. Breakthrough cancer pain: a comparison of surveys with European and Canadian patients. Support Care Cancer 23, 791–796 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-014-2426-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-014-2426-6

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