Volume 29, Issue 161, July 2025

Impact of Opioid Therapy on Quality of Life in Patients with Chronic Cancer Pain

Bartosz Zieliński^♦, Karol Mateusz Wojnarowski, Justyna Gręda

St. Alexander Hospital in Kielce, Poland

^♦Corresponding author
Bartosz Zieliński; St. Alexander Hospital in Kielce, Poland

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Opioids work to lessen pain intensity, but they do affect the overall quality of life (QoL) because of their good points and side effects, and they include sedation and constipation. New methods like skin patch opioids and mixed medicines seek to manage pain well and lower harmful effects. Results: Studies, both those that were published between January 2018 and May 2025 synthesized evidence. The synthesis shows opioid therapy improves physical QoL domains much since it reduces pain harshness and betters functional status in cancer patients. Transdermal opioids, including fentanyl and buprenorphine, are associated with greater patient satisfaction and fewer gastrointestinal side effects compared to oral formulations. However, the psychological and social aspects of QoL show less consistent improvement, with many patients continuing to report emotional distress, sleep disturbances, and social withdrawal. Negative consequences, especially constipation caused by opioids and the potential for dependence, continue to be major obstacles to achieving optimal quality of life. Conclusions: Opioid treatment is essential for managing cancer pain effectively and can significantly improve the physical quality of life for patients experiencing chronic cancer pain. Future pain management strategies should emphasize individualized opioid regimens, proactive management of adverse effects, and integration of supportive psychosocial interventions to optimize quality of life outcomes for cancer patients.

Keywords: cancer pain, opioid therapy, quality of life, transdermal opioids, opioidinduced constipation.

Medical Science, 2025, 29, e121ms3631

PDF

DOI: https://doi.org/10.54905/disssi.v29i161.e121ms3631

Published: 30 July 2025