QJM : monthly journal of the Association of Physicians
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Cancer-related pain is a common clinical problem, experienced by ∼90% of patients with cancer. The mainstay of treatment remains opioids and the WHO analgesic ladder. ⋯ The focus of this article is the mismatch between the temporal characteristics of the majority of cancer-related breakthrough pain which is fast onset and resolution, with the pharmacological profile of oral morphine. The contribution of fast-acting fentanyl preparations to the treatment of breakthrough pain and the evidence for the various commercially available preparations will be considered.