Opioids and Cancer Pain Control: Therapeutic Personalization, Safety, and Quality of Life
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.56161/reac.v1i1.43Keywords:
Analgesia, Cancer pain, Opioids, Palliative care, Quality of lifeAbstract
Cancer pain is one of the most frequent and debilitating symptoms in patients with cancer, negatively affecting physical, emotional, and social aspects. In this context, opioids represent the main pharmacological strategy for the management of moderate to severe pain and are widely used in oncology practice and palliative care. This study aimed to analyze the use of opioids in cancer pain management, emphasizing therapeutic personalization, treatment safety, and their impact on patients’ quality of life. This is an integrative literature review conducted in SciELO, PubMed, LILACS, and Latindex databases, including studies published between 2022 and 2026 in Portuguese and English. The findings showed that individualized therapy through dose adjustment, opioid rotation, and multidisciplinary monitoring enhances analgesic effectiveness and reduces adverse effects. Furthermore, rational opioid use contributes to pain relief, improved functionality, and overall well-being. It is concluded that therapeutic personalization combined with continuous monitoring is essential to ensure safety, clinical effectiveness, and quality of life in cancer patients.
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