Supportive Care Center Clinics

The Supportive Care Center is home to three specialty clinics:

Supportive Care Clinic

In the Supportive Care Clinic, we assess and treat multiple symptoms including, but not limited to: 

• Pain
• Fatigue
• Shortness of breath
• Loss of appetite
• Difficulty sleeping
• Drowsiness
• Nausea
• Constipation
• Confusion
• Depression and anxiety 

MD Anderson patients may be referred to the Supportive Care Center at any point in their disease or treatment, including patients who are newly diagnosed. Many cancer patients experience multiple symptoms or a single difficult symptom through the course of their illness. Clinicians on the supportive care team provide expert management of these side effects and are practicing specialists in this area of medicine.

By coordinating closely with your primary oncology team, supportive specialists work to stabilize and strengthen patients throughout the course of their illness.

Our goal is to assist patients and families in making informed decisions throughout their illness. When appropriate, we offer assistance in finding end-of-life resources and coordinating care with community services.

Specialists on our Mobile Consultation Team provide supportive care consultations to all MD Anderson inpatients. If you or a family member might benefit from a consultation, please request a referral from your primary service or physician.

For patients who require advanced 24-hour care, The Andreas Beck Palliative Care Unit is a 12-bed specialized inpatient acute care facility focusing on stabilizing and improving quality of life for the most complex patients.

Hours: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday
Phone: 713-792-6072

Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation (PM&R) Clinic

This outpatient clinic focuses on the prevention, diagnosis and nonsurgical management of disabilities associated with cancer and its treatment. Our goal is to maximize patient function in important life dimensions, including medical, social, emotional and vocational. Services include care for patients with musculoskeletal disorders, chronic pain, and others who need integrated rehabilitation care.

PM&R can help with:

• Assessment and treatment of cancer-related loss of function
• Return to work, driving and mobility issues
• Lymphedema management
• Management of musculoskeletal pain
• Spasticity management

Hours: 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m, Monday through Thursday;  8:30 a.m. to 12 p.m., Friday
Phone: 713-792-6072

Cachexia Clinic 

Weight loss is one of the most common symptoms patients experience from cancer and/or cancer treatment. Because it is so common, the Supportive Care Clinic has added a sub-specialty clinic to help manage and address this common side effect for cancer patients.

Cachexia is a condition that primarily affects patients with upper gastrointestinal, pancreatic and lung cancers, but can also impact those with head, neck and genitourinary cancer. The Cachexia Clinic welcomes referrals of patients who have experienced:

• Unintentional weight loss of at least 5% in the last six months
• Decreased appetite
• An inability to maintain lean muscle
• Depression, nausea or pain that have contributed to weight loss

Hours: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, Thursday and Friday
Phone: 713-792-6072