The Surgical Clinic
SURGICAL ONCOLOGY
For those seeking surgical oncology, our team is here to provide you with the knowledge and support you need to make the best decisions for your health and well-being.
Understanding Your Procedure
What is Surgical Oncology?
Surgical oncology is a subspecialty of general surgery that focuses on the diagnosis, treatment, and management of patients with cancer.
SURGICAL ONCOLOGY AT THE SURGICAL CLINIC
Facing a cancer diagnosis can be overwhelming, and we understand the fears and uncertainties that come with it. Our dedicated team is here to partner with you, providing not just medical expertise but a compassionate hand to guide you through your unique cancer journey.
Your journey with us is not just a medical experience; it’s a collaborative effort toward your well-being, marked by compassion, understanding, and a commitment to providing the best care tailored to you. Each service is designed to contribute to a seamless and effective journey toward healing, ensuring you receive the highest standard of cancer care available.
We go beyond standard services, aiming to provide a holistic and patient-centric approach to your care.
Supporting Services
Comprehensive Cancer Services Offered
Breast Reconstructive Surgery
Cancer Removal Surgery
Minimally Invasive Diagnostic Procedures
Robotic Surgery
Skin-Related Cancer Detection
Tumor Removal Surgery
Your Care Journey
Individualized Cancer Care
No two cancer cases are alike and we don’t believe in a one-size-fits-all approach, your journey is unique and so is our care.
At The Surgical Clinic, we embrace the uniqueness of each patient and their disease by fostering open collaboration, empowering you to understand every option available and ensuring you are in control of your cancer journey.
Your oncology surgeons play a central role in guiding you through the intricacies of your treatment plan, and we are dedicated to developing a personalized plan to ensure that your care is not just right but also follows the optimal path for your recovery.
Radiation Therapy & Skin Care
It is important to help prevent your radiation therapy reference marks from fading, as these ink marks are used to help position your body for radiation therapy. Do not intentionally remove marks until your healthcare provider tells you it is ok to do so:
- When you bathe do not scrub them, let water run over them and pat them dry gently.
Depending on factors like the location of the tumor and your general health, radiation therapy can cause side effects to your skin that are like a mild sunburn. Please keep in mind that side effects do not affect how well radiation therapy works on your cancer.
CARING FOR YOUR SKIN DURING RADIATION THERAPY
- Wear loose clothing to help prevent rubbing.
- Clean your skin daily with warm water and mild soap, or as advised.
- Do not use lotion, perfume, deodorant, or powder in the treatment area.
- Do not use products that contain alcohol as this may cause dryness.
- Do not put anything hot or cold on the treated skin, such as heating pads or ice packs.
- Stay out of the sun.
- If you must be outdoors wear a hat and clothing to protect the skin, and after treatment, use SPF 15 or higher sunscreen.
Understanding Prostate Cancer
The prostate is a gland about the size and shape of a walnut behind the base of the penis, and with age the cells of the prostate may change to form tumors or other growths.
Prostate cancer may not cause symptoms at first, but over time it can grow and spread. It is important to have your healthcare provider examine you and do some tests to find out if a problem is caused by cancer.
Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary (HPB) Surgery
Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Surgery is the surgical treatment of diseases in the liver (hepato), pancreas (pancreato), and gallbladder and bile ducts (biliary system). This surgery is one of the most complex general surgeries and requires a highly skilled general surgeon who specializes in these diseases.
While some conditions are relatively rare, others are more common such as:
- Benign Tumors
- Neuroendocrine Tumors
- Cancers
- Gallbladder Stones
- Cysts
- Pancreatic Tumors
RISK FACTORS FOR HPB SURGERY
- Diabetes
- Heart Disease
- Pancreatic Dysfunction
- Cirrhosis
- Obesity
Colorectal Cancer Screening
Colorectal cancer, starting in cells that form the colon or rectum, is one of the leading causes of cancer deaths in the U.S.
When this cancer is found and treated early, when it’s still small and hasn’t spread, the chances of a full recovery are very good. Colorectal cancer rarely causes symptoms in its early stages so screening for the disease is important, especially if you have risk factors for this cancer.
RISK FACTORS FOR COLORECTAL CANCER
- 50 years of age or older
- Family history or personal history of colorectal cancer or polyps
- African American or of Eastern European Jewish descent (Ashkenazic)
- Type 2 diabetes, Crohn’s disease, or ulcerative colitis
- Inherited genetic syndromes like Lynch syndrome (HNPCC) or familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP)
- Overweight
- Not physically active
- Smoke
- Drink a lot of alcohol
- Eat a lot of red or processed meat
COLORECTAL CANCER SCREEING OPTIONS
The American Cancer Society and the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommend colorectal cancer screening for people at average risk starting at age 45. Talk with your healthcare provider about your risk and when screening is best for you, and check with your health insurance carrier about your coverage.
The following are the most common colorectal cancer screening tests:
- Fecal Occult Blood Test (FOBT) or Fecal Immunochemical Test (FIT): These tests check for blood in stool that you cannot see, known as hidden or occult blood, which may be a sign of colon polyps or cancer.
- Stool DNA Test: This test looks for cells in your stool that have changed DNA in them, as it could be a sign of cancer or polyps, as well as for hidden blood.
- Colonoscopy: This visual test allows your healthcare provider to find and remove polyps anywhere in your colon or rectum.
- Flexible Sigmoidoscopy: This test is a lot like a colonoscopy but focuses only on the sigmoid colon, the last 2 feet of the colon, and rectum.
- Virtual Colonoscopy: This test, also called a CT colonography, uses a series of Xrays to make a 3-D image of your colon and rectum.
No matter what test you choose, the most important thing is that you get screened. If cancer is found at an early stage it is easier to treat, and treatment is more likely to work well. In some cases, cancer can even be prevented with routine screening tests.
Meet Your Care Team
Our Surgeons
The Surgical Clinic Blog
LEARN MORE ABOUT SURGICAL ONCOLOGY
Small Bowel Obstruction: When Is Emergency Surgery Required?
Diverticulitis: When Is Surgery Necessary?
Carotid Artery Disease: How Surgery Can Help Prevent Stroke
Real stories highlight our commitment to rapid, effective action in the face of rare and challenging cases:
“It’s a rollercoaster ride. And when you jump on it, you better be ready, because it happens quick.
From the day of diagnosis on a Monday, the following Wednesday I was having major surgery.”
B. Sudduth, pancreatic cancer patient
Surgical Oncology FAQs
Additional Information
Please click each question below to learn more, and visit our general FAQs to explore additional questions.
As always please reach out if you would like to discuss anything further, we will be glad to help you!
What is surgical oncology?
Surgical oncology is a subspecialty of general surgery that focuses on the diagnosis, treatment, and management of patients with cancer.
What is prostate cancer?
Cancer starts when cells in the body change and grow out of control. Cancer cells can form lumps of tissue called tumors. Cancer that starts in the cells of the prostate is called prostate cancer.
Why choose for surgical oncology?
At our surgical cancer clinic, we go beyond standard cancer services, aiming to provide a holistic and patient-centric approach to your care. Each service is designed to contribute to a seamless and effective journey toward healing, ensuring you receive the highest standard of cancer care available.
What is Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Surgery (HPB)?
Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Surgery (HPB) is the surgical treatment of diseases in the liver (hepato), pancreas (pancreato), and gallbladder and bile ducts (biliary system). HPB surgery is one of the most complex general surgeries and requires a highly skilled general surgeon who specializes in liver/pancreatic/biliary diseases.
Get the care you need
SURGICAL ONCOLOGY
Explore additional resources and find the location near you.