Opioids are often prescribed to manage pain after surgery, but new research suggests that many patients treated for early-stage cancer may continue using these medications long after their recovery.
The findings raise concerns about the potential for opioid misuse and highlight the need for careful pain management strategies in cancer care.
The study, published in the journal Cancer, focused on U.S. veterans who underwent surgery with the goal of curing stage 0 to stage 3 cancers.
All 9,213 patients included were “opioid-naive,” meaning they had not been prescribed opioids in the year before their cancer diagnosis.
Researchers followed these individuals for a year after their surgery to see how many developed persistent opioid use.
They discovered that more than one in ten patients—981 people, or 10.6%—were still using opioids a year later.
Even more concerning, 366 patients (4.0%) were prescribed opioids along with benzodiazepines, a combination considered risky because it can suppress breathing and increase the chances of overdose.
The study also revealed which patients were most vulnerable. Those with a history of chronic pain, multiple health problems, or lower socioeconomic status faced a higher risk of ongoing opioid use.
Patients who received chemotherapy after surgery were also more likely to remain on opioids. Importantly, the intensity of opioid exposure during treatment—the number and strength of prescriptions—was closely tied to whether patients went on to use the drugs long term.
Opioids, such as oxycodone and hydrocodone, are effective for managing acute pain after surgery.
However, long-term use can lead to dependence, opioid use disorder, or even overdose. For cancer survivors, who are now living longer than ever thanks to earlier detection and better treatments, these risks are becoming an increasingly important part of survivorship care.
“Minimizing opioid exposure while still providing effective pain relief is key to protecting the long-term health of cancer survivors,” said lead author Dr. Marilyn M. Schapira of the University of Pennsylvania. She emphasized that as survival rates improve, doctors and patients must balance pain control with strategies that prevent new health problems related to opioids.
This research sheds light on the unintended consequences of well-meaning pain management during cancer care. It suggests that while opioids may be necessary in the short term, more attention should be given to tapering off use, considering alternative pain treatments, and avoiding potentially dangerous drug combinations.
As Dr. Schapira notes, the challenge is clear: cancer care must not only save lives but also ensure that survivors can live free from the risks of long-term opioid dependence.
If you care about cancer risk, please read studies that exercise may stop cancer in its tracks, and vitamin D can cut cancer death risk.
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