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What is a Surgical Oncologist?
A
surgical oncologist
is a cancer surgeon who first completes a five-year
general surgery residency, then completes a two or three
year fellowship at one of the surgical oncology programs
approved by the Society of Surgical Oncology, the
governing body of this subspecialty. Surgical oncologists
are board certified in surgery. Each year, fewer than 50
surgical oncologists a year complete this rigorous
training and enter surgical practice compared to over
1,000 general surgeons a year. This additional training
allows surgeons to tackle difficult cancers (such as
esophagus, lung, liver and pancreas tumors) safely and
successfully.
Surgical oncology
fellowship training educates the surgeon in state-of-the-art
care of common malignancies such as breast, lung, and colon as
well as providing extensive exposure to complex and unusual
cancer problems. Surgical oncology fellowship also includes
significant experience in management of complex disease
involving endocrine pancreas and in surgery for benign and
malignant tumors of the thyroid, parathyroid, adrenal, and
ovary.
Because
of their unique training in general surgery and cancer surgery,
surgical oncologists
offer a very high degree of specialization and expertise.
Cancer surgery is generally considered complex surgery and
volume experience with specific operations have the lowest
complication and death rates. Surgical oncologists approach
cancer not only with the latest surgical techniques, but with
greater understanding of the underlying tumor biology. We
collaborate closely with our medical and radiation oncology
colleagues and stay at the forefront of emerging and exciting
treatment strategies.
Drs.
Richard Orr and Christophe Nguyen are board-certified in
General Surgery and have completed SSO-approved
specialty-training programs in Cancer Surgery. Dr. Barry Hird
is board-certified in general surgery and has completed an SSO-approved
specialty-training in breast surgery. These three surgeons are
committed to providing the best subspecialty care to cancer
surgery patients.
Do I need a second opinion, and why should I see
a specialist in cancer surgery?
It is
not possible to accurately predict which patients will benefit
by having their care provided by a specialist rather than a
generalist. Accordingly, surgical oncologists usually make
their services available to all cancer patients. Patients
seeking second opinions may gain several benefits:
a.
More time for an in
depth explanation of your cancer and possibilities for
treatment. By specializing in one area and keeping current in
this one area, the surgical oncologist is in the best position
to give detailed and
time-consuming answers to your important questions.
b.
Immediate access to
multi-disciplinary care. Modern cancer surgery is exceedingly
complex and often involves interactions with other cancer
specialists. The surgical oncologist can help you negotiate the
maze of modern cancer care by explaining the reasons for tests
and other consultations.
c.
Not
infrequently, a case that appears to be "straightforward" may
actually be more complicated, or may become more complicated.
Because of specialization, surgical oncologists may have access
to newer approaches and/or clinical trials of which
non-specialists may not be aware.
Drs.
Orr and Hird see their patients in the surgical oncology suite
(Third floor of the Gibbs Regional Cancer Center). Dr. Nguyen
sees patients in the surgical oncology suite and at the
Carolina Surgical Specialists’ office at North Grove.
What are some of the advanced procedures
performed by surgical oncologists?
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Sentinel lymph node biopsy
for breast cancer and melanoma
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Breast conservation (lumpectomy)
for breast cancer, including Oncoplastic techniques for the
best cosmetic results
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Insertion of Mammosite radiotherapy catheter for
breast cancer
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Thyroidectomy
and neck dissection for thyroid tumors
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Minimally invasive (sestamibi guided)
parathyroidectomy
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Surgery for lung cancer and tumors of the thymus
glands, including the latest in video-assisted minimal access
techniques
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Laparoscopic-assisted colon resections
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Sphincter-saving resections for rectal cancer
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Liver resections
for primary and metastatic cancer
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Advanced procedures for upper abdominal
gastro-intestinal tumors including
esophagectomy,
pancreatectomy, and
total gastrectomy
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Limb
conservation
surgery for soft tissue tumors
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Surgery for pelvic tumors including ovarian
cancer
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Melanoma and skin cancer surgery
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Surgery for head and
neck cancer including
mouth, throat, neck, and salivary glands
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