Cancer-related pain

Pain is a common side effect of cancer and its treatments, which is why specialized care matters. The Cancer Center Pain Clinic is dedicated to helping you manage cancer‑related pain and find relief.
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1-319-356-4200

Pain is often a side effect of cancer or its treatments, and it can interfere with your daily life, comfort, and well‑being. University of Iowa Health Care’s Cancer Center Pain Clinic is here to help you manage cancer‑related pain through specialized, interventional pain management services.  

Our team works with you and your care team to better understand your pain and provide personalized treatment options. Here, you will receive more focused evaluation and closer monitoring of your symptoms and response to treatment. This includes consultations for pain‑reducing procedures, as well as adjustments to your pain management plan, to help improve your comfort, function, and quality of life. 

Comprehensive care for cancer-related pain

Managing pain is an essential part of comprehensive cancer care. The Cancer Center Pain Clinic is part of Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center, where care is shaped by advanced research, nationally recognized standards, and a team‑based approach to treatment.  

With the support of the full UI Health Care health system, you have access to the specialists and services you need — when you need them. Your pain care is closely coordinated with your cancer team, helping provide seamless, personalized support throughout your treatment. 

Our approach to cancer-related pain management

When you visit the Cancer Center Pain Clinic, you will meet with a pain management specialist who has advanced training in treating cancer‑related pain. Your visit is focused on a thorough evaluation of your pain, including how it affects your daily life and how you have responded to treatments so far. Based on that assessment, your provider may recommend medication adjustments, interventional pain relief options, or both. 

Procedures are not performed during clinic visits. If a pain‑reducing procedure is recommended, our team will work to obtain prior authorization and schedule it at the appropriate location — most often in the Ambulatory Surgery Center at our university campus. Your care is coordinated with your cancer team to help ensure timely, thoughtful treatment and ongoing monitoring of your pain. 

Cancer pain treatments

  • Trigger point injections 
  • Joint injections 
  • Epidural steroid injections 
  • Medial branch block 
  • Radiofrequency ablation 
  • Nerve blocks and neurolysis  
  • Vertebral augmentation
  • Spinal cord stimulation 
  • Neuraxial analgesia 
  • Cordotomy 
  • Myelotomy 
  • Dorsal root entry zone (DREZ) lesioning 
  • Cingulotomy 

Looking to add a pain management specialist to your cancer care?

When you call 319-356-4200, we’ll help you find a provider who meets your needs.
Call 1-319-356-4200

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