Overview
Solid tumors are growths that can occur throughout your body. These growths may form in the breasts, lungs, prostate, skin, colon or other organs. Solid tumors develop when cells divide and grow in ways they shouldn’t.
The cancer specialists at Cleveland Clinic in Florida use the most advanced technologies to diagnose and treat solid tumors. Patients from throughout South Florida and the Treasure Coast count on our experts for cancer therapies that offer the best possible health outcomes.
Other Oncology and Rare Solid Tumors at Cleveland Clinic in Florida: Why Choose Us?
No matter where in your body cancer occurs, expert care makes all the difference. Our comprehensive cancer team includes every type of cancer specialist (oncologist). You benefit from:
- Team approach: We work together — and with you — to create personalized strategies to treat cancer. Each of our board-certified and fellowship-trained specialists has years of education and experience in specific cancers. We collaborate continuously and meet formally in our weekly tumor board meetings to ensure we leave no stone unturned in managing your care.
- Leading-edge treatments: Our surgeons use advanced techniques to treat even the most complex cancers with precision. We provide robotic- and video-assisted surgeries that use minimally invasive approaches to help reduce your recovery time. Our specialists focus on minimizing side effects and improving your quality of life during and after treatment.
- Access to emerging therapies: The most personalized care requires a constant focus on finding effective ways to treat cancer. Our physicians lead clinical trials of new treatments that advance cancer science. Research specialists in the Florida Research and Innovation Center search for new ways to treat cancer and improve your quality of life during therapy. Search for a clinical trial and talk to your doctor to see if you’re eligible to participate.
Diagnosis & Testing
Solid tumors we treat
Different cell types form solid tumors. You may have a benign tumor (not cancer) or a malignant tumor (cancer). These cancers include:
- Carcinoma: Tumors that develop in your skin (epithelial cells) and in cells that line your organs are carcinomas.
- Sarcoma: Tumors that form in bones and soft tissues are sarcomas.
The oncologists at Cleveland Clinic in Florida treat all solid tumor cancers, including:
- Brain tumors.
- Breast cancer.
- Colorectal cancer.
- Esophageal cancer.
- Gynecologic oncology.
- Head and neck cancer.
- Lung cancer.
- Melanoma and skin cancers.
- Pancreatic cancer.
- Prostate cancer.
- Sarcomas.
- Urologic cancer.
Proper diagnosis and staging of solid tumors are critical to treating cancer effectively. Our experts use a range of techniques to identify cancer. We determine the location and size of tumors (known as cancer stage) and whether cancer has spread (metastasized). We stage cancers with:
- Biopsy: We take tissue samples from tumors for our pathologists to examine. Biopsy results help your oncologists decide how best to treat you.
- Blood tests: Experts use blood tests for cancer to diagnose many conditions. Test results may show genetic changes (mutations) that oncologists can target with specific treatments.
- Imaging tests: We use CT scan, MRI, PET scan, ultrasound and X-ray to see if cancer has metastasized beyond its primary location.
Treatment
We have multiple ways to treat solid tumors. Our cancer specialists get to know you and consider your health goals when creating your treatment plan. Depending on your needs, we may recommend:
Interventional procedures
Many of our providers specialize in performing interventional procedures. Using these advanced techniques, our specialists can treat many solid tumors without surgery. Depending on the tumor’s location and stage, we may perform:
Radiation therapy
Our radiation oncology experts use leading-edge technology to treat solid tumors with customized radiation therapies. These precise techniques avoid radiating nearby healthy tissue to help preserve function. We may treat tumors with radiation or use these therapies to shrink tumors and make removing them with surgery possible.
Systemic therapy
The expert medical oncologists at Cleveland Clinic in Florida work closely with our cancer geneticists to identify cellular targets for personalized treatment. Depending on the tumor’s genetic makeup, we may recommend therapies that travel throughout the body via the bloodstream, such as:
Surgery for solid tumors
Our cancer surgeons remove solid tumors with leading-edge techniques. With these approaches, you can expect to get home sooner, with less pain after surgery. You’re also less likely to experience complications. We offer:
- Laparoscopic surgery: During laparoscopic surgery, we use a thin instrument with a light and camera (laparoscope). Surgeons make small incisions and insert surgical instruments to remove benign tumors and malignant tumors.
- Robotic-assisted surgery: Our surgeons use computerized systems with thin robotic arms inserted through tiny incisions. Robotic-assisted surgeries offer a high degree of precision and faster healing.
Appointments & Locations
Make an appointment at one of our Cleveland Clinic locations in Florida, or schedule a virtual visit.
Locations
Palliative & Supportive Care
Our cancer palliative and supportive care team is there for you during diagnosis, treatment and after cancer. Your patient navigator is your personal resource for scheduling and managing appointments and for getting the information and resources you and your loved ones need. We offer access to art, massage and music therapies, nutrition counseling, and financial and transportation help.
