The Inova Schar Cancer Institute, together with the Department of Advanced Radiation Oncology and Proton Therapy team, participates in groundbreaking research and clinical trials that are paving the way for new treatments for adult and pediatric cancers. This team of researchers is continually striving to find better ways to prevent, diagnose and treat cancer expanding across a variety of different cancer disease groups. In collaboration with leading academic institutions, our numerous clinical trials could make a difference in your treatment plan, as well as those for future patients.

Before Treatment Once a cancer diagnosis has been made, a team of specialists will work together to recommend the best treatment for you. That team will likely consist of a: Surgeon Medical Oncologist Radiation Oncologist Primary Care Doctor In some cases, your cancer will need to be treated by using more than one type of treatment. For example, if you have breast cancer, you might have surgery to remove the tumor (by a surgeon), then have radiation therapy to destroy any remaining cancer cells in or near your breast (by a radiation oncologist).

Chronic Pain Chronic pain is different from acute pain. Typically, pain that lasts longer than three months is considered chronic pain and should be evaluated by a physician. We recognize this difference, and our customized treatment plan will reflect the different approach that individuals living with chronic pain often need. Over-the-counter pain medications are often not adequate to treat chronic pain. Chronic pain is a multifaceted problem that requires input from more than one specialist.

We create an individualized treatment plan for each patient When chronic or acute pain is present, we first need to identify the underlying cause to find the best treatment plan. Whether the pain is the result of an acute injury or a chronic disease such as arthritis, cancer, spinal stenosis or persistent pain after surgery, we will create an individualized treatment plan for each patient. Treatment options may include non-narcotic medical management, interventional procedures, conservative care modalities, behavioral health services and rehabilitative therapies.

For certain types of neck or arm pain, your doctor may suggest a cervical epidural injection. During this procedure, medicine (such as numbing medicine or a steroid) is injected deep into your neck into your spinal canal or near the nerve root as it exits your spine. The injection helps the doctor find the source of your pain. It can also help ease your pain and soreness, either temporarily or more permanently. In rare cases, it can cause serious complications. What are cervical vertebrae? The cervical vertebrae are the bones that support your neck and head.

Back or neck pain may be caused by a problem with your facet joints. If so, a facet joint injection may help. With this treatment, medicine is injected into certain facet joints. The injection can help your healthcare provider find problem joints. It may also ease your pain. What is a facet joint? Bones called vertebrae make up your spine. Each vertebra has flat surfaces (facets) that touch where the vertebrae fit together. These form a structure called a facet joint on each side of the vertebrae. What is a facet joint injection?

A lumbar epidural injection, which contains a numbing medicine and a steroid, won’t stop all low back and leg pain for everyone. But it can reduce pain and break the pain cycle for many patients. This cycle may begin when back pain makes it hard to move. Lack of movement can then slow down the healing process. By getting you back on your feet, the injection can help speed your recovery. Some people may feel more relief from an injection than others, and some people may need more than one injection to get relief. Usually, no more than four injections are done in a 12-month period.

Back or neck pain may be due to pain coming from the facet joints in your spine. If so, medial branch nerve blocks and radiofrequency ablation of the medial branch nerves may be an option to help relieve your pain. The medial branch nerve block is a diagnostic procedure to assess whether the radiofrequency ablation of the medial branch nerve has a chance to provide longer lasting pain relief. What are medial branch nerves? Each vertebra in your spine has facets (flat surfaces). They touch where the vertebrae fit together. This forms a facet joint.