Patients with advanced cancer often experience bothersome symptoms requiring specialist palliative care input. Oncology clinical trials commonly include a list of prohibited medications while on trial, to avoid potential drug interactions with the investigational product. This case series illustrates how recent opioid shortages combined with prohibited opioids in clinical trials significantly impacted cancer pain control and quality of life. These cases highlight the need for cancer trial protocols to closely consider the potential impact of prohibited medication lists on optimal pain management for patients with cancer.
Keywords: Cancer; Pain; Palliative Care.
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