Summary
The are doing this study to find out whether using topical (on the skin) herbal plasters, Tibetree pain- relieving plasters (PRPs), can be an effective addition to standard opioid therapy for pain management. The researchers will look at whether the Tibetree PRPs are a practical (feasible) and effective way of managing localized pain (pain that is limited to a certain area) in people who are currently taking opioids. Participants in this study will have cancer or have had it in the past.
Eligibility Criteria
Age Range: 18 years to No maximum
Inclusion Criteria:
* English speaking with age ≥ 18 years or older
* A diagnosis of cancer with no restrictions placed on type of cancer or stage. Eligibility criteria will not be restricted to MSK confirmed biopsy/diagnosis. Outside institution's testing is sufficient.
* Ambulatory (Karnofsky Performance Status of ≥ 60)
* Having one of three types of pain (e.g., musculoskeletal pain, bone metastasis pain, and visceral/abdominal pain) and the worst pain area can be covered by one patch of topical herbal plaster
* Worst pain score (measured by the 0-10 numeric pain rating scale) 4 or above in the preceding week
* Current use of short-term oral opioids (i.e. oxycodone, morphine immediate release, or hydromorphone) for pain management.
* Willingness to adhere to and understanding of all study-related procedures, including randomization to one of the two possible study arms
* Able to understand informed consent and provide signed informed consent form
Exclusion Criteria:
* Patients are unwilling to reduce opioid use if their pain reduces
* Patients have generalized musculoskeletal pain such as fibromyalgia as primary source of pain
* Patients with clinician confirmed significant skin disorders such as severe eczema, psoriasis, severe xerosis, chronic dermatitis, or adhesive allergy.
* Patients with open wounds, infections, skin trauma at skin overlying area of pain
* Patients with documented history of skin sensitivity to adhesive or allergic reaction to other patches or topical analgesics
* Patients with documented skin allergic reaction to plants or herbs
* Patients who are unwilling to hold their current localized topical pain treatment (such as lidocaine patch) for the most severe pain site.
* Patients who undergo initiation or change in pain management strategies within 1 week prior to enrollment, including oral analgesics (e.g., opioids, NSAIDs), medications that can significantly reduce pain (e.g., bisphosphonates, denosumab), or interventional procedures (e.g., nerve blocks, palliative radiation).
* Patients who are planned to undergo initiation or change of the above pain management strategies in the 2 weeks following enrollment.
* Patients who undergo initiation or change in standard cancer treatments (surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, hormonal therapy, immunotherapy, or targeted therapy) 1 week prior to enrollment.
* Patients who are planned to undergo initiation or change of active cancer treatments (surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, hormonal therapy, immunotherapy, or targeted therapy) in the 2 weeks following enrollment.