Breakthough Cancer Pain Management

Mandaluyong, Philippines, 8 March 2017 at EDSA Shangri-la Hotel, a media event to discuss what breakthrough cancer pain is being facilitated by top medical practitioners that could provide some light about this type of pain.

Professor Michael Uberall

Sharing their expertise on the topics were Dr. Dolma Santos, member of the Board of Directors of the Pain Society of the Philippines and Professor Michael Uberall, a renowned and widely published physician in the Pain and Palliative Care with over 600 scientific lectures and more than 100 original papers in this field. Prof Uberall is also the Medical Director of the Institute for Neurological Sciences in Nuernberg Germany and the President of the German Pain League.

“According to the Philippine Cancer Facts & Estimates, there will be 6 million people worldwide and 200,000 Filipinos who will suffer from cancer pain, majority of which are not satisfactorily relieved in spite of availability of well-established, simple and cost-effective methods for cancer pain relief” – Dr Dolma.

Dr. Dolma Santos, member of the Board of Directors of the Pain Society of the Philippines

There are two types of cancer pain – background pain and breakthrough cancer pain. According to Professor Uberall, Breakthrough cancer pain (BTcP) is a transient exacerbation of pain than occurs either spontaneously, or in relation to a specific predictable or unpredictable trigger, despite relatively stable and adequately controlled background pain. 

Breakthrough cancer pain is characterized by a sudden onset of pain that reaches peak intensity within as little as 3 minutes and lasts for an average of 30 minutes. Patients with cancer have around 4 episodes of Breakthrough Cancer Pain in a day.

Breakthrough Cancer Pain is a common problem among cancer patients and is also known to have a severe detrimental impact on quality of life (QoL), including daily functioning, social relationships and enjoyment of life. Furthermore, a number of studies have reported that a large proportion of patients with BTcP feel dissatisfied with their pain control. Thus, there is a need for effective treatments for relief of BTcP as current treatments do not adequately address BTcP.

Now, cancer patients who suffer from Breakthrough Cancer Pain do not have to miss those special moments in their live due to availability of modern and practical treatment that can be prescribed to relief this specific type of pain.

If you or your any of your loved ones are suffering from Breakthrough Cancer Pain, consult your doctor.