Fentanyl Buccal Tablet or Morphine for Exertional Dyspnea in Cancer Patients

Inclusion Criteria

• Diagnosis of cancer with evidence of active disease
• Dyspnea on exertion with an average intensity level >= 4/10 on a modified Borg scale
• Outpatient at participating centers
• Ambulatory and able to walk, with or without walking aid
• On strong opioids with morphine equivalent daily dose (MEDD) of 60-400 mg for >= 1 week (wk) (i.e. at least 4 out of 7 days), with stable (i.e. +/- 30%) regular dose over the last 3 days (d)
• Karnofsky performance status >= 40%
• Age >= 18 years (yrs)
• Able to complete study assessments
• Able to speak English or Spanish
• Reside within 65 miles of participating centers or expected to visit MD Anderson in person at least once a month

Exclusion Criteria

• Dyspnea at rest >= 7/10 on modified Borg scale at enrollment
• Supplemental oxygen requirement > 6 L/min
• Delirium (i.e. Memorial Delirium Assessment Scale >= 13)
• History of unstable angina or myocardial infarction 1 month (mo) prior to enrollment
• Hemodynamic instability requiring hospitalization
• History of substance use disorder or abnormal urinary drug screen within the past year, or at risk of opioid abuse as determined by Screener and Opioid Assessment for Patients with Pain (SOAPP14) >= 7
• History of or known allergy to fentanyl or morphine sulfate
• Using scheduled benzodiazepines at the time of enrollment and cannot stop during the study
• Severe anemia (hemoglobin [Hb] < 7 g/L) if documented in the last month and not corrected prior to study enrollment * No new bloodwork will be required if not already available
• Bilirubin >= 5 x upper limit of normal if documented in the last month and not lowered to < 5 x normal prior to enrollment * No new bloodwork will be required if not already available
• Diagnosis of acute pulmonary embolism within past 2 weeks (wks)
• Diagnosis of pulmonary hypertension
• Diagnosis of malignant pleural effusion with therapeutic thoracentesis expected in the next 2 wks
• Currently pregnant or breastfeeding
• Unwilling to provide informed consent