Chronic Opioid Therapy in Cancer Survivors at a Specialty Oncology Pain Clinic: Opioid Dosing, Efficacy, and Safety During Five Years of Pain Management

There are limited data regarding long-term safety and efficacy in cancer survivors receiving chronic opioid therapy. With conflicting recommendations on opioid-prescribing practices and lack of available outcome data, this study aimed to provide a longitudinal perspective on opioid prescribing in cancer survivors. A retrospective chart review at a comprehensive cancer care center pain clinic used data from pain clinic provider notes from 2013 to 2018. Inclusion criteria were patients in clinical remission not receiving active chemotherapy or immunotherapy and receiving opioids during the study period. Opioid dosing changes and outcomes between zero and five years were evaluated by standard statistical analysis. Thirty-two patients met inclusion criteria. Solid malignancies were more common than hematologic malignancies (72% vs. 28%). Common pain complaints were related to postsurgical changes (43%), postradiation (32%), and chemotherapy-induced pain syndromes (25%). There were no serious adverse events. One patient exhibited possible aberrant behavior. At the initial visit, the median morphine milligram equivalent per day (MME/day) was 130. Median MME/day at Year 0 (study start) and Year 5 was 135 and 159, respectively (P = 0.475). Functional status was satisfactory in 58% at Year 0 and increased to 91% of patients meeting their functional goals at Year 5. In a carefully monitored group of cancer survivors with persistent pain, chronic opioid therapy was safely managed during extended periods without significant opioid escalation or evidence of serious adverse events including aberrant behaviors. This population benefited when opioid therapy was managed with a focus on function rather than reduction of pain intensity scores.