Open AccessOral analgesic use in postmenopausal women after curative breast cancer treatment:post hocanalysis of the ATAC trial
Author(s) -
Catherine Datto,
Patricia G. Johansen,
Oscar de LeonCasasola
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
breast cancer management
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1758-1931
pISSN - 1758-1923
DOI - 10.2217/bmt-2020-0017
Subject(s) - medicine , concomitant , tamoxifen , analgesic , post hoc analysis , breast cancer , opioid , laxative , postmenopausal women , cancer , physical therapy , anesthesia , constipation , receptor
Aim: To evaluate analgesic use and associated conditions in postmenopausal women who had undergone curative breast cancer treatment. Materials & methods: This post hoc analysis used the Arimidex, Tamoxifen, Alone or in Combination (ATAC) trial database, which included patient reports of concomitant medications and associated indications during follow-up. Results: Of 3434 women with eligible concomitant medication data, 71.8% reported oral analgesic use. Of 2321 patients using analgesics ≥30 days, 47.9% reported opioid use. Musculoskeletal pain was the most common indication for oral analgesic use. Of patients using opioids, 28.1% reported concomitant laxative use. Conclusion: Approximately half of the patients reported opioid use, most commonly for noncancer (musculoskeletal) pain, suggesting that breast cancer survivors experience chronic pain that should be appropriately managed.