skip to main content

Incident Pain — SCE Medical Oncology MCQ

Instant feedback + full explanation. One question, done properly.

ModerateSupportive & Palliative OncologyIncident PainSCE Medical Oncology

A 60-year-old woman with cancer develops incident pain (weight-bearing triggers severe bone pain). Background analgesia is adequate. What is the management?

Educational content. Not a substitute for clinical judgement or local policy.

Reveal the answer and explanation

Correct answer: C — Rapid-onset fentanyl (buccal/sublingual) given 10-15 minutes before the precipitating activity — pre-emptive for predictable incident pain

Incident pain: predictable activity-triggered breakthrough pain. Pre-emptive transmucosal fentanyl (onset ~5-15 min) 10-15 minutes before activity. Dose titrated independently of background opioid.

Reference: NICE CG140; ESMO Pain Management