Surgical Oncology

Tumor Removal & Cancer Treatment from Experts Who Care

Oncology is the diagnosis and treatment of cancer, and oncologists have many separate subfields, including surgical oncology, which is an essential component of treating cancer. At Excela Health, our surgical oncologists are experts in the surgical removal of suspicious masses that could be cancerous. You will meet with your surgical oncologist before a biopsy (removal of suspicious/possibly cancerous cells) or surgery discuss your options and learn about your procedure.

Why Do I Need to See a Surgical Oncologist?

If your primary care physician suspects you may have cancer, a surgical oncologist is likely the first doctor you’ll see. Our dedicated team of surgical oncologists at Excela Health are part of a team who work together to provide a comprehensive treatment plan that is tailored to each cancer patients specific needs.

What Does a Surgical Oncologist Do?

Cancer requires the collaboration of multiple medical professionals for the optimum results. There are several types of doctors who specialize in cancer, including surgical oncology. These cancer specialists are trained surgeons who can remove cancerous growths (tumors), determine if the cancer has spread, and formulate a precise diagnosis and stage, through biopsy and other diagnostic procedures. Our Excela Health surgical oncologists use minimally invasive operative techniques, which means patients experience less pain, less blood loss, and a quicker recovery.

To diagnose the patient’s cancer, a surgical oncologist must perform a biopsy, which may include:

• Needle biopsies
• Excisional (removing the entire suspicious area)
• Incisional (only removing a portion of the suspicious area)
• Skin biopsy
• Laparotomy (abdominal surgery)
• Laparoscopic (using a scope)

What Is a Biopsy?

A biopsy is the term for analyzing tissue samples to help diagnose an illness or cancer to definitively diagnose cancer. While other tests can help identify areas of concern, such as CT scans or X-rays, they cannot differentiate the difference between cancerous and noncancerous cells. To obtain the tissue sample during surgery, the oncologic surgeon will remove a piece of tissue so those cells can be analyzed under a microscope in a laboratory. The surgical oncologist will then send this sample to a pathologist, who analyzes for cancerous cells. If cancerous cells are present, you might need to see your surgical oncologist again to remove more tissue, such as the entire tumor and the tissues surrounding it.