Surgical oncology is the field of cancer care that focuses on surgery to diagnose, stage and treat cancer, and to manage some cancer-related symptoms.

Treating Cancer

Our surgeons perform surgical treatments for most types of cancer. Those cancers include: breast, colorectal, gastric, hepatic, lymphoma, pancreatic and thyroid.

‍

Placing a Portacath and Mammosite Catheter

A portocath, or just a port, is a smaller medical device placed under the skin, usually in the upper chest just below the collarbone, to help treat oncology and hematology patients. Underneath the skin, the portocath has a septum so blood samples can be drawn and medicine can be injected in a manner that’s less painful and discomforting than being stuck with a needle.

A catheter connects the portocath to a vein. Mammosite catheters are used in internal radiation therapy with breast cancer. Once a breast cancer tumor has been removed, a Mammosite ballon that’s attached to a thin catheter is place inside the lumpectomy cavity so treatment can be given and patients can go about their daily lives normally during treatment.