By Dr. Vivek Iyer
Cancer Treatment Centers of America®

The “Opioid Epidemic” has become a household term – and a serious public health issue. So serious, President Trump has declared our country’s opioid crisis a national emergency. According to the California Department of Public Health, some California counties have opioid prescription death rates that are two to three times higher than the national average.

Without doubt, narcotic pain medication can be effective, but it also comes with a price: nausea, constipation, drowsiness, addiction or even death.

So, imagine being able to recover from invasive cancer surgery with a small, mobile device — and with limited to no use of narcotics? One hospital is reducing the use of pain medication while providing an improved overall recovery experience for the patient.

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About the Author
Dr. Vivek Iyer is the Interventional Pain Management Specialist at Cancer Treatment Centers of America® (CTCA) in Arizona. He earned his Bachelor of Science in Molecular Genetics at The Ohio State University in Columbus and completed his Doctor of Medicine at the University of Cincinnati’s College of Medicine. After his internship at the Medical College of Virginia, Dr. Iyer completed a residency in Anesthesiology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, followed by a fellowship in Pain Medicine at the same institution. Dr. Iyer is a member of the American Society of Anesthesiologists, the American Society of Interventional Pain Physicians and the American Medical Association. At CTCA®, Dr. Iyer focuses on pain management for patients coping with all types of cancers and pain. He treats both acute and chronic pain, and specializes in surgery-related pain management. He has founded a Regional Anesthesia Program intended to dramatically reduce patients’ narcotic use after surgery.

About Cancer Treatment Centers of America
Cancer Treatment Centers of America® (CTCA) is a national network of five hospitals that serves adult patients who are fighting cancer. CTCA® offers an integrative approach to care that combines advancements in genomic testing and precision cancer treatment, surgery, radiation, immunotherapy and chemotherapy, with evidence-informed supportive therapies designed to help patients physically and emotionally by enhancing their quality of life while managing side effects both during and after treatment.

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