Surgery

Surgical Oncology

We welcome you to Mount Sinai Health System where our highly trained and experienced cancer surgeons will treat you with compassion and expertise while collaborating with other medical specialists to give you the best and most personalized care.

Each year our surgeons perform a large number of procedures to diagnose and treat a variety of cancers, including bile duct, colorectal, endocrine, esophagus, gallbladder, liver, pancreatic, melanoma, peritoneal, sarcoma, and stomach cancer. These procedures help save lives and relieve the symptoms of a wide array of both malignant (cancerous) as well as benign (non-cancerous) tumors.

Our extent of experience means that you are in the best hands with us for these cancer surgeries. You will receive treatment in modern, state of the art operating rooms and recovery areas at each of our locations throughout New York City. Our surgeons will consult with you, become familiar with your symptoms and advise you about the diagnostic process and your treatment options.

As surgical oncologists (surgeons who specialize in treating cancer surgically) within an extensive health system, we perform a high volume of operations, including when your condition affects several parts of your body, or if your cancer returns. Our surgeons use highly advanced minimally invasive and traditional open surgical procedures, working with first class anesthesiologists. While we focus on removing the cancerous or benign tumor, we are diligent in preserving surrounding healthy tissue to help you maintain your quality of life.

Why Mount Sinai

Our surgical oncologists start by understanding the full extent of your condition. Through state-of-the- art diagnostics, we determine your best treatment options. Our surgical oncologists work closely with pathologists to determine the cancer’s stage, which we base on the progression of cancer, its location, size, and number of tumors. At Mount Sinai, you will receive care from a collaborative team of experts committed to providing you the most comprehensive and appropriate treatment designed specifically for you.

At Mount Sinai, you have a team of specialists taking care of you. Our surgical oncologists work with radiation oncologists (radiologists who specialize in treating cancer through radiation) and medical oncologists (doctors who specialize in treating cancer through medications, including chemotherapy). Your surgical oncologist also works with the doctors who specialize in the part of the body where your tumor occurs—gastroenterologists for digestive cancers, for instance. And, as a fully integrated and extensive health system, if you have other conditions—heart disease or a thyroid disorder, for example—we can ensure that you receive treatment for those conditions by coordinating your care with other specialists you may need. We treat you with complete and integrated care.

In addition, our surgical oncologists ensure that you are aware of the support services available to you, such as pain control, nutrition, and social and psychological support specialists.

You may choose to come see us for a second opinion. We are happy to review your medical records and test results. We may also suggest that you allow us to do further testing to ensure an accurate diagnosis and treatment plan recommendations.

Research and Clinical Trials

Our surgeons actively participate in research and clinical trials of innovative treatments bringing from our labs directly to you the latest surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy treatment methods.

The Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai is among the institutions receiving the highest amount of funding from the National Institutes of Health for research efforts as well as funding for surgical oncology research by the National Cancer Institute and several industry partners from which you will benefit.

We are involved in many multi-institutional, international studies, and our ongoing research projects include the following:

  • Early cancer detection—screening to discover cancer at its earliest stages
  • Tumor markers—indicators of cancer found in blood or urine
  • Cancer genetics—the study of inherited risk factors for cancer
  • Environmental risk factors—actual or potential risks in the environment
  • Minimally invasive surgical techniques—surgery performed using small incisions and technologies
  • Nonsurgical tumor ablation—techniques to remove tumors without making an incision
  • Down staging of advanced cancer to allow for surgical resection—clinical procedures that screen for cancer in preparation for removing the cancer surgically
  • Transplantation for tumors—the study of tumors in host environments
  • Anesthesia for cancer surgery—researching the effects of anesthesia on cancer patients
  • Adjuvant treatment to prevent cancer recurrence—follow up cancer treatment
  • Tumor vaccines—development of vaccine to prevent cancer
  • Gene therapy—using normal, healthy genes as treatment
  • Non-chemotherapy treatment of advanced cancer—alternatives to chemotherapy treatment

What You Can Expect

Before your surgery you will have pre-surgical tests—blood and urine tests, X-rays, and other imaging tests. The results of these tests inform your doctor about your overall health so that your surgical team is ready for you, and so that your body is properly prepared for the procedure. Feel free to ask any questions you have before your surgery.

Your anesthesiologist will also base the amount and type of anesthesia you will receive during surgery based on the results of those tests and the type of surgery you are having. The length of your hospital stay before going home and your overall recovery time depend on the type of surgery you had and your overall health. Your health care team will give you specific directions for your recovery, such as how to care for any wounds, what foods or activities to avoid, and what medications to take.

We create a personal survivorship plan for you that will help guide your health care and life style choices following surgery. We will continue to monitor your condition for the first five years of your survivorship and beyond if you like. We are here for you throughout your health care journey. In addition, during your recovery and afterwards, Mount Sinai offers a full array of support services for cancer patients, ranging from social services to nutritional advice. We encourage you to participate in the programs that will be helpful to you.