Cancer Pain Syndrome is a very difficult side effect of cancer diagnosis. It is present in about one-third of cancer patients and can associated with acute therapies directed at cancer treatment or chronic changes in the body after radiation, chemotherapy, or presence of a neoplasm. The goal with any therapy from Cancer Pain is to decrease the pain intensity and to minimize the growth of the neoplasm. In combination with chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery there are a number of interventional pain treatments to help provide support for patients. If one can provide a decrease in the pain intensity along with limiting symptoms of nausea, vomiting, and fatigue associated with treatment, it can allow a patient to participate in more aspects of their oncologic care. My goal is to decrease the pain patterns, limit side effects from high dose opioids, and help patients remain active and participatory in the cancer treatment. It is one of the most difficult periods in a patient’s life, but I want to be able to provide and maintain quality of life. It is the most rewarding part of my practice.
The most beneficial treatments include:
- Intrathecal Drug Management with a Pain Pump
- Nerve Bundle Blockade and Ablation
- Medication Management
- Dorsal Root Ganglion Stimulation (Chemotherapy Induced Neuropathy)
- Peripheral Nerve Blockade
- Peripheral Nerve Stimulation
- Kyphoplasty (Compression Fractures)