Credit score: CC0 Public Area
New analysis signifies that many sufferers who endure surgical procedure with the intent to remedy early‐stage most cancers proceed or begin opioid prescriptions within the yr following surgical procedure. The findings are printed in Most cancers.
Ache administration is crucial throughout most cancers care, however prescription opioid practices related to most cancers remedy could result in unsafe lengthy‐time period opioid use and opposed outcomes resembling opioid use dysfunction and opioid overdose.
To evaluate the scenario, investigators examined charges of recent persistent opioid use within the yr following surgical procedure for stage 0 to three cancers amongst 9,213 U.S. veterans who have been opioid‐naive (not on prescribed opioids the yr previous to their most cancers analysis).
The workforce discovered that probably harmful co‐prescription of opioid and benzodiazepine (a central nervous system depressant that treats nervousness, insomnia, and seizures and shouldn’t be mixed with opioids) drugs occurred in 366 (4.0%) veterans throughout observe‐up. Persistent opioid use occurred in 981 (10.6%).
The next depth of publicity to opioid prescriptions throughout remedy was related to these outcomes. Individuals with a previous historical past of persistent ache, better comorbidities, decrease socioeconomic standing, and who obtained adjuvant chemotherapy have been at particularly excessive threat of opioid use within the yr after surgical procedure.
“Minimizing opioid exposure associated with cancer treatment while providing effective pain control will decrease long‐term health risks among cancer survivors,” stated lead creator Marilyn M. Schapira, MD, MPH, of the College of Pennsylvania. “This is important as many patients are living longer after a cancer diagnosis and treatment.”
Extra data:
Marilyn M. et al. The influence of opioid use related to healing‐intent most cancers surgical procedure on protected opioid prescribing observe amongst veterans: An observational research, Most cancers (2025). DOI: 10.1002/cncr.70009
Quotation:
Are sufferers present process surgical procedure for early-stage most cancers liable to persistent opioid use? (2025, September 8)
retrieved 8 September 2025
from https://medicalxpress.com/information/2025-09-patients-surgery-early-stage-cancer.html
This doc is topic to copyright. Aside from any truthful dealing for the aim of personal research or analysis, no
half could also be reproduced with out the written permission. The content material is offered for data functions solely.

