Overview

Overview

Our surgical oncology program provides leading-edge treatment for many types of cancer. Your team includes board-certified surgeons and cancer specialists who work together to deliver the best treatment for your needs.

Surgical Oncology at Cleveland Clinic in Florida: Why Choose Us?

Our team includes surgical oncologists, medical oncologists, radiation therapists and plastic surgeons. As our patient, you benefit from:

  • Combined expertise: You have an entire team of experts on your side. Our specialists hold regular meetings to discuss individual cancer cases and create tailored treatment plans. Meet our team.
  • Convenient care: We focus on making treatment easier on you and your schedule. You receive care from multiple specialists in one visit, and your nurse coordinator guides you throughout your care.
  • Leading-edge therapies: Surgeons partner with cancer specialists to provide advanced treatment for many types of cancer. We are among a few centers in the nation to provide hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC), a single-dose, intense treatment for abdominal cancers.
  • Support: Coping with cancer can be challenging. We are here for you with mental health care, community resources and social work services. Learn more about our cancer support services.
Treatment & Procedures

Treatment & Procedures

We treat all types of cancer that affect your abdominal organs, adrenal glands, breasts and digestive system. Our surgeons are experienced in treating:

  • Breast cancer.
  • Colorectal cancer.
  • Esophageal cancer.
  • Gastric (stomach) cancer.
  • Liver and biliary tract cancer.
  • Pancreatic cancer.
  • Spleen and adrenal gland cancer.

Breast cancer

You have access to the full range of breast cancer surgery options. We help you determine your surgery needs, from a lumpectomy to a combined mastectomy and reconstruction. Find out more about breast surgery.

Colorectal cancer

Our specialists care for all types and stages of colorectal cancer with treatments ranging from polyp removal to innovative colon surgeries. Our surgeons use advanced colorectal surgery breakthroughs, including the J-pouch procedure. Learn more about our world-leading colorectal cancer surgery.

Esophageal cancer

Our GI surgeons partner with cancer care specialists at Cleveland Clinic in Florida to provide comprehensive esophageal cancer care. We treat squamous cell carcinoma, adenocarcinoma and rare esophageal cancers.

We choose the right procedure for you based on the cancer type and your medical needs. You have access to surgeons who provide the full range of surgeries and minimally invasive surgical endoscopy procedures, including:

  • Endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR): Our providers use an electric current to destroy cancerous cells in your esophagus. Our specialists provide EMR with no outside incisions.
  • Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD): Our surgeons use endoscopy to locate esophageal tumors and remove them with small internal incisions.
  • Esophageal stent: A stent (tube) in your esophagus can improve your quality of life during or after esophageal cancer treatment. We place esophageal stents using endoscopy techniques, so you have no incisions.
  • Esophagectomy (removal of all or part of the esophagus): In our team’s skilled hands, esophagectomy has a high cure rate for esophageal cancer. We use minimally invasive laparoscopic or robotic surgery in most cases, so you have a faster recovery.
  • Radiofrequency ablation (RFA): This procedure removes precancerous cells or Barrett’s esophagus using heat energy. You have no outside incisions and usually go home the same day.

Gastric (stomach) cancer

Surgery is often a key part of treating gastric (stomach) cancer. We provide advanced surgery for every type and stage of stomach cancer, including:

Our GI surgeons work with our Department of Oncology & Solid Tumors to provide the full range of stomach cancer surgeries, including:

  • Endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) and endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD): These minimally invasive procedures do not require incisions and are effective for many early stage stomach cancers.
  • Partial gastrectomy: Our surgeons remove the part of your stomach affected by cancer and reattach the healthy parts. We may also remove some surrounding tissue or lymph nodes if needed.
  • Total gastrectomy: We may recommend total gastrectomy (removal of your entire stomach) if the cancer is more advanced or near the esophagus. This surgery has a high cure rate for stomach cancer. After your surgery, our gastroenterologists and nutritionists provide ongoing care and nutritional guidance.

Liver and biliary tract cancer

Liver and bile duct cancers are less common than other cancers and require specialized care. We have years of experience treating these cancers at Cleveland Clinic in Florida. Our surgeons and cancer care specialists work together to treat:

  • Biliary tract cancer (cancer that forms in your liver’s bile ducts).
  • Metastatic liver cancer (cancer that spreads to your liver from another part of your body).
  • Primary liver cancer (cancer that starts in your liver).

Liver and bile duct cancer surgeries we provide include:

  • Partial hepatectomy: We remove part of your liver, and the remaining part takes over for your liver function. This procedure works well if you have good liver function and early stage cancer.
  • Total hepatectomy and liver transplant: Removing the entire liver is the most effective way to treat liver cancer in some cases. For this surgery, we remove your liver and replace it with a new, donated liver. Our program includes world-leading transplant surgeons who provide exceptional care in these complex cases. Learn more about our Liver Transplant Program.
  • Whipple procedure: Patients with certain types of bile duct cancer may benefit from the Whipple procedure. This surgery removes your bile duct, gallbladder and part of your pancreas, small intestine and stomach. Our team is highly experienced in the Whipple procedure and other complex abdominal surgeries.
  • Palliative surgery for bile duct cancer: Our specialists provide care to help improve your quality of life if bile duct cancer cannot be surgically removed. We specialize in laparoscopic bile duct stent placement, which places a small stent inside your bile duct. The stent prolongs your bile duct function and requires only small incisions.

Pancreatic cancer

Surgery is a main part of treating pancreatic cancer. The surgery you need depends on the tumor type, stage and location.

Cleveland Clinic in Florida is a National Pancreas Foundation Center of Excellence for pancreatic cancer and pancreatitis. Our center is one of only two in South Florida to earn this recognition. We are home to world-leading GI surgeons who are experienced in:

  • Distal pancreatectomy: This surgery removes the tail of your pancreas and sometimes part of the pancreas body. In most cases, we use a laparoscopic, minimally invasive approach, so you have a faster, easier recovery.
  • Pancreatic resection: Also called partial pancreatectomy, this procedure removes part of your pancreas. We also remove nearby lymph nodes in most cases.
  • Total pancreatectomy: This procedure removes your entire pancreas and some nearby lymph nodes and organs, like your spleen. We use advanced imaging to pinpoint the cancerous cells, with the goal of removing all the cancer during surgery.
  • Whipple procedure: Also called pancreaticoduodenectomy, this procedure involves removing several organs in your abdomen to treat pancreatic cancer. Surgeons may also remove your bile duct, gallbladder and part of your small intestine and stomach in addition to removing part of your pancreas.

Spleen and adrenal gland cancer

If your spleen is affected by cancer, our specialists may recommend splenectomy (surgery to remove all or part of your spleen). Our surgeons use laparoscopic methods for splenectomy in most cases, so you have small incisions and less scarring. We work closely with expert endocrinologists to treat tumors in your adrenal glands.

Learn more about spleen and adrenal gland surgery at Cleveland Clinic in Florida.

Our Doctors

Our Doctors

Appointments & Locations

Appointments & Locations

Make an appointment at a Cleveland Clinic location in Florida, or schedule a virtual visit.

Locations