Cochrane

Bottom line There is no evidence from randomised controlled trials to support or contradict the suggestion that opioids in any dose will reduce cancer-related pain in children or adolescents. Background Childhood cancer is one of the leading causes of disease and death for children and adolescents in the world today. Its associated pain is a ...

Background Patients with incurable cancer often experience tiredness (fatigue) during cancer treatment. Psychological therapies may help to reduce this symptom. Tiredness in cancer patients receiving cancer treatment may be treated with psychological therapies aimed at influencing or changing thoughts, emotions, behaviours, social interactions, or ...

Bottom line There is no evidence to show that paracetamol is useful in treating people with cancer pain, either alone or combined with a morphine-like drug. Nor is there evidence to disprove that it is useful. There are no good studies evaluating paracetamol for management of cancer pain. Background One person in two or three who gets cancer will ...

Bottom line There is no high-quality evidence to prove that NSAIDs are useful in treating people with cancer pain. Nor is there evidence to disprove that they are useful. Very low-quality evidence shows that some people with moderate or severe cancer pain have pain much reduced within one or two weeks. Background One person in two or three who gets ...

Background Acute postoperative pain is one of the most disturbing complaints after open heart surgery. It is related to impaired wound healing, chronic pain, or depression. Psychological treatment is designed to improve participant’ knowledge and to alter surgery-related mental distress, negative beliefs and noncompliance. It aims to reduce pain and ...

Bottom line In about 19 of 20 people with moderate to severe pain from cancer, morphine-like drugs (opioids) can probably reduce pain to mild or no pain within 14 days if they can tolerate the side effects. Most people will have side effects, and about 1 in 10 to 2 in 10 will need to change their treatment because of side effects. Background One ...

Background Nausea is a common symptom in advanced cancer. While nausea and vomiting can be related to cancer treatments, such as chemotherapy, radiotherapy, or surgery, a significant number of people with advanced cancer also suffer from nausea unrelated to such therapies. Nausea and vomiting may also cause psychological distress, and have a negative ...

Protocol: To assess the efficacy (relief of fibromyalgia-associated symptoms), tolerability (drop out due to adverse events), and safety (serious adverse events) of mirtazapine for fibromyalgia in adults.

Bottom line The benefits and harms of adding low-dose ketamine to strong pain-killers such as morphine for the relief of cancer pain are not yet established. High-dose ketamine does not appear to be effective and may be associated with serious side effects. Background This review is an update of a review first published in 2003 and updated in 2012. Morphine-like ...

Protocol: To assess the effects of systemic corticosteroids for the management of cancer-related breathlessness (dyspnoea) in adults.