Interventional radiologists launch 1 of nation’s 1st tumor boards dedicated to cancer pain
Interventional radiologists have helped launch what those involved believe is one of the nation’s first tumor boards dedicated to cancer pain.
The Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center—part of the University of Miami Health System—recently touted the “pioneering” feat, calling it “a bold step toward improving quality of life.” UHealth said the new board will focus on bone metastases, which it notes are a leading cause of cancer-related discomfort.
Its Adult Cancer Pain & Bone Metastasis Tumor Board is already meeting regularly, incorporating other fields including radiation oncology, palliative care, orthopedics, anesthesia and neurosurgery, among others.
“This initiative is driven by the belief that we should treat cancer pain with the same urgency and collaboration as the cancer itself,” Alan Alper Sag, MD, an associate professor of interventional radiology and co-founder of the board, said in an announcement. “We’re combining two increasingly relevant topics—cancer pain and bone metastases—into a focused, multidisciplinary approach that can dramatically improve patient outcomes.”
The tumor board held its initial meeting in May, bringing together specialists to help streamline pain management strategies for patients whose symptoms fall outside the scope of traditional approaches. Within the first month after gathering, Dr. Sag and colleagues had reviewed and developed pain-management plans for over 25 patients, according to UHealth.
Prior to joining the organization, the IR specialist represented Duke University on the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) Guidelines Panel for Adult Cancer Pain. He is a nationally recognized expert in both bone and nerve interventions.
“His vision in creating this multidisciplinary team, the first such program in the state of Florida and among a select few in the United States, will improve the quality of life for many of our patients,” Laurence Sands, MD, MBA, a professor and interim chair of the school’s Department of Interventional Radiology, said in the announcement.
Members of the IR department moderate the meetings, diving deep into pain-management strategies using NCCN guidelines. In one standout case, a young patient had suffered severe pelvic pain from metastatic colon cancer, which persisted after radiotherapy and opioid escalation. Tumor board experts identified two additional options, a focal outpatient CT-guided nerve block and ablation and an intrathecal pain pump, according to UHealth. The individual underwent the CT-guided option, experiencing “immediate, complete pain relief.”
Sag highlighted key goals of the tumor board, including reducing opioid utilization, hospital admissions and cancer treatment interruptions. He said patients have responded favorably to the initiative, which the IR specialist hopes will spread elsewhere.
“We believe this approach will become standard at major cancer centers,” he said in the announcement. “Our advice to others: Build a motivated, collaborative team and let the shared mission of relieving suffering guide your innovation.”
Marty Stempniak has covered healthcare since 2012, with his byline appearing in the American Hospital Association's member magazine, Modern Healthcare and McKnight's. Prior to that, he wrote about village government and local business for his hometown newspaper in Oak Park, Illinois. He won a Peter Lisagor and Gold EXCEL awards in 2017 for his coverage of the opioid epidemic.