Surgical Oncology Procedures

What is surgical oncology, and how did it begin?

Surgical oncology is a specialized surgical field that focuses on the treatment and removal of a variety of types of tumors. The first known instance of an oncological procedure was reported in 1809, when Ephraim McDowell operated on an ovarian tumor. Although this is the first reported instance of oncology, it is said that ancient Egyptians left evidence describing procedures used to remove breast tumors that were performed during the 7th century.

What is the goal of surgical oncology?

As in all surgeries, oncological surgery is meant to help curative efforts, specifically for a variety of types of cancer.  Prior to recommending a surgical procedure, the surgeon must first facilitate a consultation with the patient where diagnostic and staging studies are performed.  This will help the surgeon determine whether the tumor is operable or not as is, and the results will assist in developing a curative and surgical plan for the patient.  The ultimate goal of a surgical oncologist is to extract the entirety of the cancer and clear margin, hopefully leading the patient down the road to a cancer-free recovery.

What surgical oncology procedures do we specialize in?

At Great South Bay Surgical Associates, we provide a wide variety of surgical oncology procedures such as:

• Breast Cancer Surgery (lumpectomy) - Including nipple sparing and skin sparing cancer procedures, lymph node preserving procedures to prevent lymphedema, and breast reconstruction
• Gastrointestinal Cancer Surgery - Including stomach (gastric), small bowel, colon and rectal surgery (available using both laparoscopic and open techniques)
• Melanoma and Skin Cancer Surgery with sentinel node techniques
• Sarcoma Treatment (tumors of muscle)

At Great South Bay Surgical Associates, we pride ourselves in the multitude of services and procedures that we offer to our patients in Nassau and Suffolk counties. Comprised of eight leading doctors in the surgical field, our team is committed to providing exceptional services by using state of the art technologies while upholding our traditional values of caring and quality.  For more information or to schedule a consultation, click here to view our website or call 631-321-6801 today.