What is Sarcoma & Who is At Risk?

Unfortunately there are a wide variety of cancer types that can occur in the human body. One specifically rare cancer form is sarcoma, which grows in connective tissue unlike the more common carcinoma. There are over 50 different strands of sarcoma that are broken down into two distinct categories: soft tissue sarcoma and osteosarcoma (bone sarcoma). Though they are most commonly detected in the bones, muscles, tendons, cartilage, nerves, fat and blood vessels of your arms and legs, sarcomas have the ability to affect all parts of the body equally.

So who is at risk for developing sarcoma? Though the specific cause of sarcoma, and cancer in general, remains undiscovered, research has been able to pin down a few things that might increase your risk factor:

• Heredity - Like many health conditions, those that have family members that were affected by sarcoma in the past are more likely to develop the cancer themselves.
• Paget’s Disease - Those who have been diagnosed with Paget’s Disease, a rare chronic bone condition where one’s bones rebuild at a faster pace than normal, are at a higher risk. However, this disease only occurs in about 1% of people in the United States.
• Genetic Disorders - If you’ve been diagnosed with neurofibromatosis, Gardner syndrome, retinoblastoma, Li-Fraumeni syndrome, or any other form of genetic disorder, you may run a high risk of developing sarcoma later in life.
• Radiation - If you’ve had any kind of exposure to radiation or radiation therapy treatment, you may be more likely to fall victim to sarcoma.

Luckily, only about 1 out of 100 adult cancer cases are diagnosed as soft tissue sarcoma, and the odds are even more slim when it comes to osteosarcoma.

Although there are many different treatment options available, like most cancers, the best way to attempt to rid the body of sarcoma is with surgery. That’s where Great South Bay Surgical Associates can help. Our surgeons are the most knowledgeable in the industry, specializing in a wide variety or open and minimally invasive oncological surgery procedures.

For more information, click here or call 631-321-6801 to schedule a consultation.

Signs & Symptoms of Skin Cancer - The ABCDE Rule!

It’s no secret that too much fun in the sun can sometimes have some pretty serious consequences. With beach weather upon us, and summer camp trips on the horizon, it’s important to not only protect yourself against the sun’s harmful rays, but to be able to keep an eye out for potential signs and symptoms of skin cancer. To help you stay informed, here are a few things you should know in order to accurately identify potentially dangerous abnormalities on the skin:

As a general rule, you’ll want to keep an eye out for odd-looking moles, sores, lumps, or blemishes on the skin’s surface. However, in order to identify anything unusual, you first have to know what a normal, healthy mole looks like. A normal mole is typically about a quarter of an inch in diameter, can be flat or raised and is brown, tan or black in color. Whether present at birth, or developed over one’s lifetime, once a mole has developed it should stay the same size, shape and color, but can potentially fade away as well.

Now that you’ve got a handle on what a healthy mole will look like you will be able to identify any abnormalities more easily. Let's take a look at the ABCDE rule, a guide used by the American Cancer Society to identify signs of melanoma.

• Asymmetry: Is the birthmark or mole symmetrical all the way around, or does one half not match the other?
• Border: Take a look at the edges of your mole or birthmark. Are they smooth or are they irregular, ragged, notched, or blurred?
• Color: A healthy mole will have similar coloring throughout. Do you notice that coloring is not the same all over, including shades of brown or black, or patches of pink, red, white, or blue?
• Diameter: How large is your birthmark? Since a normal birthmark is about ¼ of an inch in diameter, you’ll want to check out any moles that are larger or smaller than the norm.
• Evolving: Has your mole changed in size, shape, or color? This can be an indicator that there may be something malignant present.

If you recognize abnormalities and think that you may be showing symptoms of skin cancer or melanoma, alert your doctor right away!

At Great South Bay Surgical Associates, our doctors are trained to treat melanoma and other skin cancers with sentinel node techniques. If you or someone you know suspects that they may need skin surgery, or have already been diagnosed with melanoma, our surgeons can help. Call 631-321-6801 to schedule your consultation today.

How to Protect Your Skin This Summer!

According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, each year in the US, nearly 5 million people are treated for skin cancer. With summer in full swing and beach season here at least, it’s very important to make sure that you’re exercising caution when exposing your skin to the sun. Here are a few tips to keep your skin healthy and happy this summer:

1. Exfoliate and Hydrate - Exfoliating your skin daily will remove dead skin cells and debris, which will help keep your skin clear of congestion and blemishes. It will also allow for sunblock and cosmetic applications to last longer. Make sure to apply moisturizer after exfoliating to keep your skin hydrated and drink plenty of water daily, especially on days where you’re exposed to heavy sunlight. Warm weather can dehydrate your body faster than usual, causing dried out skin, headaches and dizziness.

2. Apply and Re-apply - Sunblock and SPF products are your best friend in the summer. Whether you’re a person who has sensitive skin that tends to burn, or can achieve a beach bronze complexion, some degree of SPF is absolutely necessary. As a general rule, you should apply a teaspoon of sunblock to your face, and enough to fill a shot glass to your body every two hours. There are a wide variety of sun protection products to choose from for any skin type and skin sensitivity, so get out there and get some!

3. Soothe and Repair - Sometimes no matter how much protection you apply, a sunburn is still inevitable. The first step to dealing with the after effects of sun damage is soothing your skin. Lathering up with aloe or cooling gel can reduce redness and irritation, and help to prevent peeling. Sun damage leads to brown spots, coarse skin and wrinkles, in addition to increasing your risk for developing skin cancer. Using a ton of moisturizer and age-fighting products can help to repair your damaged skin. Remember to visit your dermatologist regularly to look out for abnormalities and keep an eye out for melanoma.

At Great South Bay Surgical Associates, our doctors are trained to treat melanoma and other skin cancers with sentinel node techniques. If you or someone you know suspects that they may need skin surgery, or have already been diagnosed with melanoma, our surgeons can help. Call 631-321-6801 to schedule your consultation today.

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.