Pain
Whether it’s the breakthrough pain of cancer or a muscle spasm from a back injury, pain remains one of the most difficult conditions to manage. This is compounded by the very subjective nature of pain – no two patients are alike, and no patients present with the same complaints.
Since pain can result from many different causes, the strategies to manage it are equally varied. At Cephalon, we have medications that help alleviate pain for two specific patient populations: those patients who are taking daily opioids for their cancer persistent cancer pain and who also experience Breakthrough pain, and those with musculoskeletal conditions who experience acute muscle spasms.
Additional Resources
- American Cancer Society: www.cancer.org
- American Chronic Pain Association: www.theacpa.org
- American Pain Foundation: www.painfoundation.org
- American Pain Society: www.ampainsoc.org/people
- CancerCare, Inc.: www.cancercare.org
- National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship: www.canceradvocacy.org
- National Pain Foundation: www.nationalpainfoundation.org
- Partnership for a Drugfree America: www.drugfree.org/TeenRxInfo
NEAL SLATKIN, M.D., D.A.B.P.M.
Director, Department of Supportive Care, Pain & Palliative Medicine, City of Hope
Pain specialist explains types of cancer pain
Most patients have two types of cancer pain. There’s persistent pain, which they experience nearly around the clock…and that pain can wax and wane in intensity. But episodes of breakthrough pain are different. They are episodes of moderate-to-severe pain that come on rather quickly—it’s said usually within a matter of minutes, and usually don’t last for a long period of time.