Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY
Background: Cancer pain prevalence is 55-70% and it is treated with opioids. Tapering opioids after completion of cancer treatment may be complicated by addiction, one of the known side effects of chronic opioid use. To improve access to addiction treatment Suboxone has become widely available to patients with addiction and non-malignant pain. We present a case series of successful use of Suboxone in cancer survivors and patients. Methods: Our comprehensive cancer center (CCC) Pain Registry contains patient characteristics, treatments, and outcomes for a prospective cohort of 2320 chronic pain cancer patients seen in 2011-2016 in outpatient palliative and pain service clinics. We respectively reviewed the database and EMR to evaluate prevalence of addiction and use of Suboxone in cancer pain patients. Results: Of 134 (6%) patients with ICD-9/10 diagnosis of opioid dependence 11 (8%) patients received Suboxone. Eight were male and average age was 55. Eight patients were cancer survivors, one with stable metastatic prostate cancer and two developed end-stage bladder and breast cancer. Eight cancer survivors and one patient with stable metastatic prostate remained on Suboxone and received no other opioids. The two patients with advanced cancers were ultimately taken off Suboxone and discharged to hospice on TD fentanyl and hydromorphone. Suboxone was prescribed by outside prescribers for eight patients and by a CCC certified Suboxone prescriber for three patients: 75-y-o female dependent on morphine for over 10 years was successfully tapered off morphine and ultimately off Suboxone, 51-y-o lymphoma survivor remains in stable remission for addiction, and a 67-y-o man with stable metastatic prostate cancer and stable remission for addiction has been refusing opioids other than Suboxone for 2 years. Conclusions: Although cancer patients are appropriately exempt from CDC opioid guidelines cancer patients with comorbid addiction may benefit from stopping opioids when pain resolves. In addition to screening for opioid use disorder, use of Suboxone may further improve care for the patients with cancer pain and addiction and increase safety for the caregivers and community.
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