Sylvester Tumor Board: Cancer Pain Treatment Innovation
University of Miami Launches Multidisciplinary Cancer Pain Tumor Board for Faster, More Extensive Relief
The University of Miami Miller School of Medicine has launched a unique cancer pain tumor board to improve pain management and quality of life for cancer patients. This multidisciplinary team brings together experts from a wide range of specialties, including palliative care, radiation oncology, orthopaedic and spine surgery, neurological surgery, anesthesia, pain medicine, and medical oncology.
How it Works:
* The team regularly reviews complex cases submitted via secure email.
* Each specialist contributes their unique viewpoint to develop a coordinated treatment plan.
* Thay discuss patients across both the University of Miami and Jackson Health systems.
What makes it Unique:
According to Amanda Rivera, M.D., assistant professor and director of brachytherapy in the Department of Radiation Oncology, while these specialties often work together, a dedicated multidisciplinary conference specifically focused on streamlining and synchronizing cancer pain treatment plans is “quite unique.”
Success Stories:
* Bone Metastasis pain Relief: A young patient with severe pelvic pain from metastatic colon cancer, unresponsive to radiotherapy and opioids, found immediate and complete relief through a CT-guided nerve block and ablation, identified by the tumor board.
* Spinal Metastasis Management: A patient with kidney cancer metastasized to the spine benefited from a collaborative plan involving surgery,radiation,and interventional radiology to decompress the spinal cord and manage pain.
Benefits:
* Faster Decision-Making: The board accelerates the time to treatment decisions by integrating specialists for rapid alignment on multimodal pain strategies.
* Improved Quality of Life: The focus is on preserving quality of life and ensuring patients can continue with their cancer care.
* Reduced Reliance on Opioids: The team prioritizes comfort while exploring creative and proactive pain management options, possibly reducing the need for heavy opioid use.
As Marvin Mesa, MSN, NP-C, a medical oncology advanced practice nurse practitioner, notes, the team’s collaborative approach allows them to “think creatively, act quickly and prioritize comfort without compromising patient cancer treatment.”