Surgery can be used to diagnose, stage and treat cancer. For many patients, surgery will be combined with other cancer treatments such as chemotherapy or radiation. Whether a patient is a candidate for surgery depends on factors such as the type, location, size, grade and stage of the tumor and general health factors.
Ablation
An ablation is performed through a tiny incision in order to allow the physician to access the tumor directly. A long needle is then inserted directly into the tumor and delivers extreme cold or extreme heat to freeze or burn the tumor. This focused treatment avoids damage to the surrounding normal tissue.
Biopsy
If you are experiencing certain signs and symptoms your physician may order a biopsy to better determine if an area of tissue is abnormal. A biopsy is a procedure to remove a piece of tissue or a sample of cells from the body to be analyzed in a lab. Other tests can suggest if cancer is present, but only a biopsy can make a diagnosis.
IORT
Intraoperative radiation therapy (IORT) delivers a concentrated dose of radiation therapy to a tumor bed during surgery, while also working to preserve healthy tissue. This helps to reduce side effects and decrease the need to return to the hospital for additional radiation treatments. IORT may offer the advantages of more efficient dosing, help spare healthy tissues and organs, shorten treatment times and provide a boost for traditional radiation patients.
Margin Probe
The Margin Probe System can determine the success of a lumpectomy in real-time. During surgery, the electromagnetic response of tissue is assessed, differentiating cancerous cells from healthy tissue cells. This allows our surgeons to achieve clean margins, greatly reducing the need for re-excision surgery.