When Opioids Are Not the Answer: Using the ‘PARTNERS’ Framework to Manage Chemical Coping in Cancer Patients (TH320)

Pain is common in patients with cancer, and opioids are recognized as effective treatments for moderate to severe cancer pain. Yet as Cicely Saunders first recognized in her concept of “total pain,” there are non-physical dimensions to suffering, and these are not adequately addressed with opioids. Existential suffering or emotional pain occurs when severe illness injures a patient's identity, sense of purpose, spiritual faith, or relationships with others and causes anxiety a bout death or an uncertain future.
Source: Journal of Pain and Symptom Management - Category: Palliative Care Authors: Source Type: research