Surgical Oncology

Surgery is often the first and primary treatment for breast cancer, particularly for patients with early-stage disease. Our surgeons work closely with a team of multidisciplinary specialists at the Tallahassee Memorial Cancer Center to develop individualized treatment plans that may include surgical oncology, radiation therapy, chemotherapy or hormone therapy and reconstructive surgery.

Whenever possible, our team uses breast-conserving and minimally invasive surgical techniques to remove cancer while preserving healthy tissue and supporting faster recovery.

Breast cancer surgical procedures may include:

• Lumpectomy (breast-conserving surgery) to remove the tumor and a small margin of surrounding tissue while preserving most of the breast
• Mastectomy, which removes all breast tissue when more extensive surgery is recommended
• Sentinel lymph node biopsy, a procedure used to determine whether cancer has spread beyond the breast

Surgery is commonly the primary treatment for colon and rectal cancers. Our colorectal surgeons use minimally invasive and robotic-assisted techniques when appropriate, helping reduce pain, shorten hospital stays and support faster recovery.

Colorectal cancer surgeries may include:

• Colon resection (colectomy) to remove the portion of the colon containing cancer along with nearby lymph nodes
• Rectal cancer surgery, including procedures designed to remove tumors while preserving bowel function when possible
• Minimally invasive and robotic-assisted procedures performed using advanced surgical technology

Colorectal cancer surgeries are performed by specialists with TMH Physician Partners – General Surgery, who collaborate with gastroenterologists, medical oncologists and radiation oncologists and other cancer specialists to provide coordinated cancer care.

Surgery is often a key part of treatment for gynecologic cancers, including cancers of the uterus, ovaries, cervix, vagina and vulva. 

Gynecologic cancer surgeries may include:

• Hysterectomy, the removal of the uterus to treat uterine or cervical cancer
• Ovarian cancer surgery, which may include removal of the ovaries, fallopian tubes and affected tissue
• Cancer staging procedures to evaluate lymph nodes and surrounding tissue

These procedures are performed by surgeons with TMH Physician Partners – Gynecologic Oncology, who work closely with medical oncologists and other specialists to coordinate comprehensive cancer care.

For certain patients with lung cancer, surgery may be recommended to remove cancerous tumors and surrounding tissue. Surgical treatment is often most effective for early-stage lung cancers or tumors that can be safely removed.

At TMH, surgeons perform advanced lung cancer procedures designed to remove the tumor while preserving as much healthy lung tissue as possible.

Lung cancer surgical procedures may include:

• Lobectomy, the removal of one lobe of the lung containing cancer
• Segmentectomy or wedge resection, which remove smaller portions of the lung for certain tumors
• Lymph node removal and evaluation to determine whether cancer has spread

These procedures are performed by specialists with TMH Physician Partners - Cardiothoracic Surgery, working closely with pulmonologists, oncologists and other cancer specialists to ensure coordinated care.

Y-90 radioembolization is a minimally invasive treatment, performed in the operating room, used to target tumors in the liver, including cancers that originate in the liver or spread there from another part of the body.

During the procedure, tiny beads containing the radioactive isotope yttrium-90 are delivered directly to the blood vessels that supply the tumor. Once in place, the beads emit radiation that destroys cancer cells while minimizing damage to nearby healthy tissue.

Because the treatment is delivered through the tumor’s blood supply, it allows doctors to deliver a high dose of radiation precisely to the cancer, helping shrink or control tumors that may not be suitable for traditional surgery.

Y-90 treatment may be recommended for patients with:

• Primary liver cancer (hepatocellular carcinoma)
• Cancer that has spread to the liver from colorectal, neuroendocrine or other tumors
• Tumors that cannot be surgically removed
• Patients who need tumor shrinkage before surgery or transplant

The procedure is typically performed using image-guided techniques through a small catheter placed in the artery, allowing most patients to go home the same day.

An esophagectomy is a surgical procedure used to remove part or all of the esophagus to treat esophageal cancer or other complex conditions. Our surgeons use advanced techniques to remove the diseased portion of the esophagus and reconstruct the digestive tract, helping restore swallowing and improve quality of life.

This surgery is performed using minimally invasive, robotic-assisted techniques.

In some cases, tumors in the liver can be surgically removed. This procedure, called a liver resection, removes the cancerous portion of the liver while preserving healthy liver tissue.

Liver surgery may be recommended for:

• Primary liver cancer
• Metastatic cancer that has spread to the liver
• Tumors that can be safely removed

Our team carefully evaluates each patient to determine if surgery is the best option or if other therapies—such as Y-90 radioembolization—may be more appropriate.