Intrathecal Morphine in Postoperative Analgesia for Colorectal Cancer Surgery: A Retrospective Study.

Background: Colorectal cancer surgery is commonly performed with adequate analgesia essential for patient recovery. This study assessed the effectiveness of intrathecal morphine and patient-controlled analgesia (ITM + PCA) vs patient-controlled analgesia alone (PCA) for postoperative pain management in colorectal cancer surgery.

Methods: This retrospective study extracted and analyzed data covering a 4-year period (2014-2018) from a clinical database with 24- and 48-hour postsurgery follow-up.

Corrigendum to: Cancer patients' use of and attitudes towards medicinal cannabis.

Access to medicinal cannabis is a timely and important issue in cancer care. Recent legislative changes in Australia have increased access to medicinal cannabis, but the views of people with cancer on this topic are poorly understood. The aim of this study was to explore the prevalence of the use of and attitudes towards medicinal cannabis among people with cancer.

Cancer patients' use of and attitudes towards medicinal cannabis.

Objectives Access to medicinal cannabis is a timely and important issue in cancer care. Recent legislative changes in Australia have increased access to medicinal cannabis, but the views of people with cancer on this topic are poorly understood. The aim of this study was to explore the prevalence of the use of and attitudes towards medicinal cannabis among people with cancer.

Parecoxib as an adjunct therapy for the treatment of refractory non-surgical cancer pain.

Background: Evidence for the use of short-term daily parenteral parecoxib for refractory or uncontrolled non-surgical cancer pain is limited. This study aimed to characterise the real-world off-label use and report on clinical experiences in an Australian cancer cohort.

Methods: Eligible patients received at least one dose of parecoxib of an intended three-day course between October 2015 and December 2018.

Paroxetine for the treatment of intractable and persistent cough in patients diagnosed with cancer.

Introduction: Intractable and persistent cough is experienced by more than a third of patients with advanced cancer, with a significant negative impact on quality of life. Pharmacological treatment has been of little help in some patients. Limited evidence suggests novel agents such as paroxetine may reduce cough severity.

Subcutaneous Lidocaine Infusion for Pain in Patients with Cancer.

Background: Intravenous lidocaine is effective in treating pain. Limited studies have assessed the effectiveness and safety of subcutaneous lidocaine infusions.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective review of patients with cancer who received subcutaneous lidocaine infusions for pain.

Carmustine infusion reactions are more common with rapid administration.

Purpose: Carmustine is a nitrosurea alkylating agent predominantly used at Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre as part of the autologous stem cell transplant induction regimens Stanford BCNU and BEAM. Acute infusion reactions were anecdotally reported to be higher than the reported rates of 10%, and it was suggested that the rate of infusion being employed was excessive. Some references suggest maximum infusion rates of 3 mg/m(2)/min for carmustine, a rate which is exceeded in the 2-h infusions used for Stanford BCNU, but not with BEAM.