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Conditions and Treatments

Your trusted team for cancer surgery

When surgery is part of your cancer journey, you deserve surgeons who are specially trained to treat your type of cancer and understand your diagnosis and needs.

At the Parkview Packnett Family Cancer Center (PFCI), our surgical oncologists are trained, equipped, and determined to deliver the best possible outcomes for patients. In fact, all our surgical oncologists have received one to three years of specialty fellowship training in cancer surgery. Add in their general surgery residency (usually five to seven years) and medical school (four years), and our cancer surgeons typically undergo at least a decade of formal training. Rest assured that they have the skills and experience needed to provide safe, effective surgical care.

Our expert care extends beyond the operating room. We’ll provide you with a patient navigator to support you every step of the way. We’ll work as a cancer care team to ensure that your surgery fits within your broader treatment plan. And when appropriate, we’ll offer minimally invasive procedures, which may help you to recover quicker and move on to the next step of your treatment program.

FAQ

Why should I see a surgical oncologist?

Working with a surgeon who specializes in cancer care can improve outcomes. That’s because surgeons who have undergone cancer-specific training have hands-on experience diagnosing and treating cancer cases like yours. Also, Parkview’s surgical oncologists have access to advanced technology, clinical trials, and a wide variety of approaches to treating challenging cancer cases.

Does surgical oncology require a referral?
Yes. If you’ve been diagnosed with cancer, your care team can refer you to a surgical oncologist if they believe surgery could be an effective treatment for you.
What do your surgical oncologists treat?

PFCI’s surgical oncologists specialize in complex general surgical oncology services and hepato-pancreato-biliary surgery. That means they provide surgical treatment for cancers of the following areas:

  • Adrenal gland
  • Appendix
  • Bile duct
  • Colon and rectum
  • Duodenum
  • Esophagus
  • Gallbladder
  • Liver
  • Pancreas
  • Sarcoma (skin, retroperitoneal, extremity)
  • Skin (melanoma)
  • Small intestine
  • Soft tissue
  • Spleen
  • Stomach
What procedures do your surgical oncologists perform?

Here are some of the procedures our surgical oncologists perform:

  • Adrenalectomy (removal of the adrenal gland)
  • Appendectomy (removal of the appendix)
  • Bile duct resection (removal of part of or all the bile duct)
  • Bowel resection (removal of part of or all the intestine, colon, or rectum)
  • Cholecystectomy (removal of the gallbladder)
  • Gastrectomy (removal of part of or all the stomach)
  • Pancreatic cancer operations (including Whipple procedure)
  • Partial hepatectomy (removal of parts of the liver)
  • Sentinel lymph node biopsy (removal of the sentinel lymph node)
  • Skin cancer removal

Our team often uses minimally invasive techniques such as laparoscopy and robotic-assisted surgeries. These methods use smaller incisions, which can minimize blood loss and may offer quicker recovery.

How do you help patients with their recovery from surgery?

Using minimally invasive techniques can help aid in recovery, but that’s only part of the plan.

We also follow enhanced recovery protocols—a series of steps that starts well before surgery, continues into the surgical procedure, and follows through postoperation. Your care team will tailor a plan for your specific needs, but these steps can include eating nutritious foods and exercising in the weeks prior to surgery, keeping you hydrated during surgery, and resuming eating and activity as soon as appropriate following your procedure.

Enhanced recovery protocols are designed to help speed recovery, decrease the need for narcotic pain medication after surgery, avoid complications, and help you advance to the next step of your treatment. Research suggests that enhanced recovery protocols may be associated with better cancer outcomes.

Referring physicians

Are you a physician looking to refer a patient to Parkview’s surgical oncology team?

Learn how
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