Hawthorne Oncology Pain Experts - HOPE

11/19/2025

Cancer pain is more common than most people realize — affecting 40% of patients in early stages, up to 70% in advanced cancer, and even one-third of survivors. Your pain is real, and you don’t have to navigate it alone. In this video, I explain why cancer pain happens and what you can do to get the right help. If pain is affecting your daily life, speak with a cancer pain specialist who understands the unique challenges you’re facing.

10/24/2025

✨ Flashback Friday! ✨
So grateful for the opportunity to be part of this amazing webinar with the Medtronic family — continuing the mission to help those living with pain. It was a pleasure recording alongside Dr. Adrian Kohut (USF Health).
Medtronic continues to transform millions of lives, and I’m thankful to make a difference in people’s journeys through their incredible innovations.

⚡️

08/13/2025

🎗️Pink on Wednesdays because no one fights alone🩷

08/12/2025

✨ Happy Tuesday, friends! ✨
Meet Melissa Joseph, our amazing APRN. 💙 Her passion is providing quality care for those in pain, and she treasures every moment spent with her family. Melissa works side-by-side with Dr. Podgorski to make sure your needs are met with compassion and expertise.
We’re here for YOU! 😃

08/08/2025

Out with the old and in with the new. Nothing feels better than helping people have a better quality of life

08/07/2025

✨On Thursdays, we call it “Procedure Day” 💉
Where the pain ends… and hope begins 😃
Come see us at our clinic, we are happy to welcome you into our Hawthorne family 😊
.P

01/03/2025

10/31/2024

Hello from HOPE’s minions. Dr Gru will see you now

10/25/2024

Happy Halloween from and

02/23/2024

TARGETED DRUG DELIVERY = CATHETER TIP LOCATION IS EVERYTHING

No, the CSF is not like Kool-Aid. The CSF is oscillatory and dependent on respiratory and cardiac activity. Dye and concentration studies demonstrate that drug levels are highest within 1-2 dermatomal levels cephalad and caudad of the catheter tip.

Case and point. Here is a patient with stage IV adenocarcinoma of the re**um. The original catheter tip location was at the consus (T11-T12) providing minimal pain relief with opioid and local anesthetic mixture. Revision of the catheter via a retrograde approach to S1 is now providing durable pain relief. Pelvic neuroanatomy can be complex and highlights the need to differentiate between higher and lower pelvic viscera.

02/19/2024

FIRST SYNCHROMED III IMPLANT FOR CANCER PAIN IN TAMPA, FL Hawthorne Oncology Pain Experts - HOPE

https://hopepainrelief.org/

I am fortunate to offer many treatments for the management of cancer pain, but none are as life-changing as Intrathecal Drug Delivery, also known as a "Pain Pump." The improvement in pain, quality of life, and side effects is profound. In addition to being clinically efficacious, Intrathecal Drug Delivery is also cost-conscious. Pumps have been shown to save the healthcare system as early as 2 months after implant mostly due to reduced hospital admissions. I am proud to bring this life-changing therapy to the Tampa Bay area. Too many communities, even large metropolitan cities with top cancer centers, fall short in offering this therapy to patients. We must ensure continued access to Intrathecal Drug Delivery through education and advocacy.

Case: Osteosarcoma, status post T9 corpectomy and T7-11 fusion, no longer a surgical candidate, completed XRT, cannot tolerate chemo.

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02/01/2024

HOPE is 1 year old! Thank you to my family for all of our support, Tampa oncologists who have trusted us with the care of their patients, our staff who have given their heart and soul to our patients, and, last but certainly not least, to our patients who have put their medical care in our hands. HOPE is the first and only cancer pain-focused outpatient clinic in the Tampa area and we look forward to providing the highest level of cancer pain and complex chronic pain management possible for many years to come! pain