Overview

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

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.