Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 5, 2026

A Quantitative Sensory Testing Paradigm to Obtain Measures of Pain Processing in Patients Undergoing Breast Cancer Surgery
Published on: January 18, 2018
[Alteration in attention and cancer pain treatment]
Geana Paula Kurita1, Cibele Andrucioli de Mattos Pimenta, José Oswaldo de Oliveira Júnior
1Escola de Enfermagem, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brasil. geanakurita@yahoo.com.br
Abstract:
Cognitive impairment can negatively impact daily routine. This fact encouraged the elaboration of this study, which analyzed the impact of pain treatment with opioids on attention. Patients were divided into groups that were given (n=14) and were not given opioids (n=12). Three interviews were conducted to assess attention using the Trail Making Test and the Digit Span Test. The groups were homogeneous regarding socio-demographic variables, pain and depression; they were not homogeneous regarding the Karnofsky scale and the use of adjuvant analgesics. The patients in treatment without opioids had better performance in the Digit Span Test-reverse order, in the second assessment (p = 0.29); no differences were observed on the Trail Making Test. The observed impairments were limited, but while new studies do not confirm the findings, patients, professionals and caregivers must be alert about the possible deleterious effects of opioids on the cognitive function.
Related Concept Videos
Chemotherapy-Induced Nausea and Vomiting: Cannabinoids
Two synthetic agonists of THC,...
Analgesia and Pain Management
Adaptive Mechanisms in Cancer Cells
Some of the advantages that cancer cells have on normal cells include - enhanced ability to divide without terminally differentiating, induce new blood vessel formation,...
Cancer Therapies
However, cancer treatments can pose several challenges, as therapies used to kill cancer cells are generally also toxic to normal cells. Moreover, cancer cells mutate rapidly and can develop resistance to chemical agents or radiation therapy. Besides, all types of cancer cells may not respond to the same therapy. Some cancer cells respond to one...
Treatment Resistant Cancers
Chemotherapy-Induced Nausea and Vomiting: Neurokinin-1 Receptor Antagonists