Cancer pain is one of the main focus in managing quality of life in cancer. Cancer bone pain is particularly problematic and debilitating, because narcotics and radiation have little effect. Reuters has reported on a study that suggests a “freezing approach” to alleviate cancer bone pain called cryoablation, with response rates in 80% of patients in a small study and with a lasting effect up to 6 months. Matthew Callstrom, M.D., Ph.D., the study author and radiologist at the Mayo Clinic will present the results at the Radiological Society of North America annual meeting this week (Nov 27, 2007). This approach was first reported by the Mayo Clinic in 2005 and continues today. A medical device technology is used for the procedure and the study was funded by a medical device company. Source: Reuters.
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September 26, 2007 Update from the FDA website According to the FDA website, pain drug Fentora (fentanyl buccal tablet) has been linked to serious and fatal side effects in cancer patients who were not appropriately screened for the receiving the drug. The manufacturer of the drug, Cephalon, issued letters to physicians and healthcare professionals on the proper use of the drug in the right patient type. Here is part of the letter relating to Key safety information for Fentora:
- Do not use Fentora in opioid non-tolerant patients
- Use Fentora only for labeled indications
- Do not prescribe Fentora for patients with acute pain, postoperative pain, headache/migraine, or sports injuries
- Fentora is not a generic version of Actiq. Therefore, do not substitute Fentora for Actiq or other fentanyl-containing products
- Follow dosing instructions carefully:
- For unrelieved breakthrough pain (BTP), patients should not take mor than 2 Fentora tablets per BTP episode
- Patients must wait at least 4 hours before treating another BTP episode with Fentora
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Fentora or fentanyl is made by Cephalon and has been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for treating breakthrough cancer pain that is rapid, intense, and short in duration. According to the American Cancer Society, breakthrough cancer pain affects about 800,000 cancer patients. Fentora acts faster than similar drugs because it is absorbed through the cheek into the bloodstream. The drug is an opioid drug and is a Schedule II controlled substance. Side effects of opioids may include decreased respiration and circulation, nausea, and fatigue. Visit Fentora website.