Optimization of opioid utility in cancer pain populations

In this era of crisis and controversy surrounding opioid therapy, we must remember that cancer patients entrust us with supporting them through what might be the most difficult, and oftentimes final, period of their life. The factors that affect the benefits and risks of opioid use in cancer patients and the non-cancer population are quite different. In fact, opioid-associated deaths are 10 times less likely in the former than the latter population, suggesting that a reluctance to initiate opioids in cancer patients can risk under treatment of complex pain. In this review, we outline the considerations and evidence-based practices required to manage the clinical situations that challenge the judicious use of opioids in patients with cancer. A comprehensive review that enable us to better understand and quantify the root causes of variability in pain control, as well as risks of opioid misuse or abuse, would arm healthcare providers with the tools they need to implement multi-modal approaches to treatment planning.