UT Southwestern Medical Center’s Cancer Pain Program provides advanced therapies and compassionate care for patients with acute, chronic and breakthrough pain caused by cancer.

Our cancer pain specialists understand the physical debilitation and emotional stress that chronic pain causes and are sensitive to our patients’ needs. After a comprehensive evaluation conducted by a team of medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, psychologists and anesthesiologists who specialize in pain management, a UT Southwestern cancer pain specialist thoroughly explains the patient’s treatment options.

Depending on the specific type of pain, specialists may prescribe steroidal or non-steroidal medication, physical therapy, exercise programs, pool therapy, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) or appropriate minimally invasive treatment. The program offers advanced minimally invasive therapies available such as:

• Epidural injections, in which medication is delivered into the epidural space in the spine, relieving pain.
  
  
• Selective nerve root blocks, in which an anti-inflammatory medication is injected to the affected nerve root, which provides significant pain relief.
  
  
• Sympathetic nerve root blocks, in which anesthetic agents are injected around the affected sympathetic nerves to provide pain relief and assess damage to the sympathetic nervous system.

UT Southwestern’s comprehensive medical resources enable patients to have an initial consultation, testing, follow-up visits and any needed medical procedures all in one location.