Surgical Oncology

Surgery is often recommended as the first step in brain cancer treatment. We offer:

• Endoscopic procedures – Minimally invasive procedures that use tubes with cameras. This allows surgeons to view and sometimes remove cancerous tissues or cells.
• Craniotomy – An opening is made in the skull to allow the surgeon to view and remove the tumor.
• Endovascular techniques – Called embolization, these procedures cut off the blood supply that feeds a tumor.
• Radiosurgery – This technique helps stop cancer cells from reproducing and is also referred to as Gamma Knife or CyberKnife surgery.

PeaceHealth provides several options based on your diagnosis. We offer:

• Sentinel node biopsy – Surgery to collect lymph nodes to determine if cancer has spread beyond the breast.
• Lumpectomy/partial mastectomy – Surgery to remove the tumor and surrounding tissue, or a part of the breast.
• Mastectomy – Surgery to remove one or both breasts.
• Breast reconstruction – Surgery to rebuild the look and shape of breasts after a mastectomy or lumpectomy.

Physicians remove and study tissue samples during colonoscopies and sigmoidoscopies. We offer:

• Polypectomy – A minimally invasive surgery that removes polyps from the colon.
• Colectomy (bowel resection) – A surgical procedure that removes all or part of the colon.
• Transanal endoscopic microsurgery – An advanced, minimally invasive surgery that removes growths or early cancer from the rectum.

Today, patients have a wide range of minimally invasive choices to treat early-stage thyroid cancer. We offer:

• Lobectomy – Surgery on the thyroid to remove lobes that contain cancer cells.
• Thyroidectomy – Surgery to remove the thyroid gland itself.
• Lymph node removal – Surgery to remove lymph nodes containing cancer cells.

Head and neck cancer can affect any area of the mouth, sinuses, nose or throat. We offer:

• Laryngectomy – Surgery to remove the. Choices include a total or partial laryngectomy.
• Transoral laser microsurgery (TLIM) – Minimally invasive surgery to remove small or medium-sized tumors through the mouth.
• Transoral robotic surgery (TORS) – The removal of mouth and throat tumors through the mouth.
• Endoscopic skull base surgery – Surgeons can view and remove certain cancers by inserting an endoscope (a thin, flexible tube with a camera attached) through the nose.

Early stage esophageal cancer is sometimes removed with surgery. We offer:

• Esophagectomy – Surgery to remove some or most of the esophagus, and sometimes part of the stomach.
• Lymph node removal – Surgery to remove lymph nodes so they can be checked for cancer cells.
• Palliative care surgery – Surgery to help manage symptoms of esophageal cancer, and help improve your quality of life.

A wide range of surgical approaches can remove all or parts of reproductive organs affected by cancer, including:

• Hysterectomy – A surgery where the uterus is removed.
• Salpingo-oophorectomy – This surgical procedure includes a full hysterectomy, along with the removal of one ovary and fallopian tube, or the uterus and both ovaries and fallopian tubes.
• Omenectomy – The surgical removal of the omentum, which is the thin fold of tissue surrounding the stomach, large intestine and other abdominal organs.

Your surgeon may recommend surgery to remove cancer from certain areas of the body and, in some cases, affected organs. Procedures may include:

• Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatoprahy (ERCP) – An endoscope, or a tube with a light at the end, is placed in the mouth and through the throat to diagnose and treat certain cancers.
• Whipple procedure (pancreatic duodenectomy) – A surgery where the head of the pancreas is removed. The body of the pancreas may also be removed, along with nearby structures.
• Bile duct removal – a surgery to remove the bile ducts of the liver.
• Hepatectomy – A surgery to remove cancerous portions of the liver.

Surgical approaches to treat lung cancer, and cancers of the chest wall and thymus include:

• Video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) – A thin tube with a video camera is inserted into the chest through one small incision, allowing surgeons to view and remove cancerous cells.
• Lobectomy or wedge resection – Surgery to remove the entire lobe or part of the lobe.
• Pneumonectomy – Surgery where an entire lung is removed.
• Sleeve resection – This procedure can help preserve lung function by removing only part of the large airway.
• Laser surgery – This surgery is sometimes used to treat early stage non-small cell lung cancer.

Surgery is often recommended for most types of skin cancer, including:

• Excision – Cancer is removed at the site, along with a small amount of healthy tissue.
• Mohs surgery – Cancer is removed in very thin layers until cancer cells are gone.
• Cryosurgery – Extreme cold is used to kill skin cancer cells.
• Laser surgery – Lasers are used to cut or destroy cancer cells.

Surgery is commonly used to treat prostate and other urologic cancers such as kidney, testicular or bladder. We offer:

• Prostatectomy – This procedure removes all or part of the prostate.
• Nephrectomy – A procedure to remove one or both kidneys.
• Orchiectomy – A procedure to remove one or both testicles.
• Cystectomy – A procedure to remove all or part of the bladder.