Abstract
Breakthrough pain is a relatively new concept, first coined by Portenoy and Hagen in 1990 [1], and anecdotal observation suggests that awareness of breakthrough pain as a distinct clinical entity remains relatively low [2]. Cancer pain is often variable, with a waxing and waning course throughout a day. For example, variations in activity level may be associated with exacerbations of pain that are somewhat predictable. On the other hand, sudden and significant changes in pain intensity may also occur spontaneously. While these are both examples of breakthrough pain, the strategy for addressing each scenario may be quite different. Breakthrough pain may also have variable pathophysiologic underpinnings, sometimes from a neuropathic process, while at other times from more nociceptive or mixed etiologies. Given the complexity and heterogeneity of breakthrough cancer pain (BtCP) as a distinct clinical entity, a separate chapter dedicated to its assessment and management is appropriate. BtCP can have a dramatic impact on the quality of a patient’s life, as well as key pain-related outcomes, and therefore warrants focused attention and expert management.
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LeBlanc, T.W., Howie, L.J., Abernethy, A.P. (2016). Breakthrough Cancer Pain. In: Alberts, D., Lluria-Prevatt, M., Kha, S., Weihs, K. (eds) Supportive Cancer Care. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-24814-1_8
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-24814-1_8
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