The FDA has just approved a new medication, Onsolis, to help manage that breakthrough pain. It’s a novel way of giving medication. Onsolis is an opioid called fentanyl , which is often given as a patch to help manage severe pain. Onsolis, on the other hand, is a medication that is put on the inside of your cheek and is absorbed through the mucous membranes.

This medication shouldn’t be given to just anyone though as it’s reserved for patients who are used to high doses of opiate medications (narcotics). If Onsolis is given to someone who isn’t used to high doses, he or she could experience difficulty breathing or death.

Because of the strength of the drug, Onsolis will only be available through a special program called the FOCUS program. According to the FDA :

As part of the REMS, Onsolis will only be available through a restricted distribution program called the FOCUS program. Under this program, only those prescribers, patients and pharmacies registered with the program will be able to prescribe, dispense, and receive Onsolis. The FOCUS program will provide training and educational materials to prescribers and pharmacy personnel, and a counseling call will be placed to patients prior to dispensing to ensure they have been adequately educated about the appropriate use of the drug. Prescription orders will be filled only by participating pharmacies that send the product directly to the patients’ homes.

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Image: BioDelivery Sciences International

Post from: Blisstree

FDA Approves Cancer Pain Drug, Onsolis

Click here to read more.

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Post from: Blisstree

Pain “may” be undertreated in cancer?

Cancer pain is a different type of pain to manage from other sorts of chronic pain. In some cases, doctors provide more cancer treatment (chemotherapy or radiation) to help shrink the tumors that may be causing the pain, while in other cases, strong doses of pain killers may be given.

Here is an interesting article on cancer pain, where the author discusses controlling the pain: Stay Ahead of the Pain.

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Post from: Blisstree

Living with and managing cancer pain

• US fentanyl deaths topped 1,000 over 2 years
• Fentanyl deaths topped 1,000 over two years
• Fentanyl deaths topped 1,000 over 2 yearsin US
• Fentanyl deaths in the United States topped 1,000 over 2 years

Seems clear enough, right? Over 1000 people died in the US, over a 2-year period because of fentanyl, right? WRONG. It’s not clear at all.

Want to know what the real headline should be?

Click here to read more.

Post from: Blisstree

You’ve likely seen this headline: Fentanyl Killing People!!

Experimental Procedure Performed as Part of a Large U.S. Clinical Trial

TIRAT CARMEL, Israel, July 21 /PRNewswire/ — InSightec Ltd. announced
today that the first U.S. patient has been treated in the company’s pivotal
trial to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of the non-invasive,
radiation-free ExAblate(R) Magnetic Resonance-guided Focused Ultrasound
(MRgFUS) system as a pain relieving treatment for patients with bone
metastases who have failed an initial round of palliative radiation.

Click here to read more.

Image: Newscom

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Post from: Blisstree

Press Release: First U.S. Patient Undergoes Non-Invasive Magnetic Resonance-Guided Focused Ultrasound Procedure to Relieve Pain From Bone Metastases

I found this interesting article over at Pain Action called Pain Related to Cancer; Your Pain Management Rights. It’s definitely worth reading. The authors review the important information you need to share with your healthcare provider, different types of medications and the side effects, and the concerns about addiction.

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Post from: Blisstree

Cancer pain: your rights

Central pain syndrome: According to NINDS, “Central pain syndrome is a neurological condition caused by damage to or dysfunction of the central nervous system (CNS), which includes the brain, brainstem, and spinal cord. This syndrome can be caused by stroke, multiple sclerosis, tumors, epilepsy, brain or spinal cord trauma, or Parkinson’s disease.”

Cancer: It’s at the point that many physicians are pushing to have cancer categorized as a chronic disease since so many people are living with it for longer periods or are beating it altogether. Whether it is ever classified as a chronic illness, cancer pain can be quite severe.

Carpal tunnel syndrome: CTS is a repetitive stress injury that is much more common than it used to be. The blame is often put on computer use, but it can happen to people who decorate cakes or who use jackhammers. This can result in chronic pain if not taken care of.

Cluster headache: Cluster headaches are actually considered to be worse than migraines. They are felt on one side of the head only and occur on the same side of the head, every day at the same time, for a period of up to several weeks before going away. Unlike migraines, which affect more women than men, more men than women get cluster headaches.

Complex regional pain syndrome: Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) is a little understood but devastating syndrome that results from what may be a small injury. It used to be called reflex sympathetic dystrophy. Here are some web sites for you:

• Complex regional pain syndrome – MayoClinic.com
• MedlinePlus: Complex Regional Pain Syndrome

Computed tomography: Computed tomography or CAT scan is an advanced type of radiology (x-ray) test. This specialized x-ray views the body tissues from different angles that are then put together with a computer.

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Post from: Blisstree

ABCs of pain: C is for….

A medication called Abstral* (fentanyl) is a  tablet that dissolves quickly under the tongue (called sublingual). The advantages of sublingual medications is that patients who can’t eat or drink can still have their medications and the reaction is usually pretty quick.

Cancer pain can keep patients from enjoying their last days and can be extremely discouraging, sometimes causing faster deterioration. Anything that can help relieve the pain is welcome.

*Abstral was originally known as Rapinyl

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Post from: Blisstree

European agency recommends approval for Abstral (fentanyl) for cancer pain

Uganda is a small land-locked country in eastern Africa that has seen more than its share of troubles. Setting political issues aside, the rising rate of disease calls for more health care, including the need for pain control.

Although much of the focus on health care and palliative care in Africa is on people who are dying of AIDS-related disease, those who are dying from cancer are suffering unnecessarily, in the opinion of the World Health Organization (WHO). Unlike the Western world, in Africa, people aren’t diagnosed with cancer in the early stages where it can be treated. Instead, they are often diagnosed when the cancer has advanced to the point that there are no treatment options other than comfort care. However, because of the lack of palliative care, the poverty, and the lack of medications, even the comfort care, the treatment of chronic pain or cancer pain, may not be possible for many. 

Here is an eye-opening article: Uganda: Why Are Patients Not Getting Their Medicines? 

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Post from: Blisstree

Think pain meds are hard to get here? Try getting some in Uganda

According to study findings presented at the annual meeting of the American Society for Clinical Oncology, acupuncture may be the solution for many people who find themselves in this situation. According to the press release Acupuncture reduces pain and dysfunction in head and neck cancer patients after neck dissection, the findings showed “that acupuncture provided significant reductions in pain, dysfunction, and dry mouth in head and neck cancer patients” following neck surgery.

Interestingly, the acupuncture did more than just help with the pain. According to the press release, “Pain and mobility improved in 39% of the patients receiving acupuncture, compared to a 7% improvement in the group that received usual care. An added benefit of acupuncture was significant reduction of reported xerostomia, or extreme dry mouth.”

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Post from: Blisstree

Pain help for people with head & neck cancer