Pain management for post-treatment survivors of complex cancers: A qualitative study of opioids and cannabis Journal Article
| Authors: | Salz, T.; Chimonas, S.; Jinna, S.; Brens, J.; Kriplani, A.; Salner, A.; Rabinowits, G.; Currier, B.; Daly, B.; Korenstein, D. |
| Article Title: | Pain management for post-treatment survivors of complex cancers: A qualitative study of opioids and cannabis |
| Abstract: | Aim: We aimed to understand experiences with opioids and cannabis for post-treatment cancer survivors. Patients & methods: We conducted seven focus groups among head and neck and lung cancer survivors, using standard qualitative methodology to explore themes around 1) post-treatment pain and 2) utilization, perceived benefits and perceived harms of cannabis and opioids. Results & conclusion: Survivors (N = 25) experienced addiction fears, stigma and access challenges for both products. Opioids were often perceived as critical for severe pain. Cannabis reduced pain and anxiety for many survivors, suggesting that anxiety screening, as recommended in guidelines, would improve traditional pain assessment. Opioids and cannabis present complex harms and benefits for post-treatment survivors who must balance pain management and minimizing side effects. |
| Keywords: | practice guideline; opioid; follow-up; breast-cancer; long-term; neck-cancer; cell lung-cancer; head; cancer survivors; cannabis; preventive care; symptom burden; cancer; of-life questionnaire; head and heck neoplasms |
| Journal Title: | Pain Management |
| Volume: | 14 |
| Issue: | 2 |
| ISSN: | 1758-1869 |
| Publisher: | Future Medicine |
| Date Published: | 2024-02-01 |
| Start Page: | 87 |
| End Page: | 99 |
| Language: | English |
| ACCESSION: | WOS:001156381600001 |
| DOI: | 10.2217/pmt-2023-0067 |
| PROVIDER: | wos |
| PMCID: | PMC10918509 |
| PUBMED: | 38318666 |
| Notes: | The MSK Cancer Center Support Grant (P30 CA008748) is acknowledged in the PDF -- Corresponding author is MSK author: Talya Salz -- Source: Wos |
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