Surgery is often the first method used in diagnosing or treating cancer. It may be followed by other treatments such as chemotherapy or radiation therapy. Some surgical procedures are done in an outpatient setting, while others may require hospitalization.

Guthrie surgeons, oncologists and other physicians work as a team to obtain the best possible outcome for our patients. Guthrie offers the region’s only fellowship-trained surgical oncologist, a dedicated oncology surgeon who treats only cancer on a daily basis. This focused approach to cancer surgery provides patients with the optimal benefits of a designated surgeon who understands the complex nature of cancer.

Surgery may be performed to:

• Prevent cancer by removing growths
• Diagnose and stage the cancer  progression
• Remove the entire tumor (curative)
• Remove a majority of the tumor (Tumor reduction)
• Alleviate pain or other complications (Palliative surgery)
• Reconstruct affected areas (breast reconstruction, facial reconstruction, scar revision)

Guthrie offers dedicated surgeons to treat the following cancers:

• Bladder cancer
• Brain cancer
• Breast cancer
• Colorectal cancer
• Endocrine (thyroid) cancer
• Esophageal cancer
• Gynecologic cancer
• Head and neck cancer
• Kidney cancer
• Lung cancer
• Liver and pancreatic cancer
• Melanoma
• Ophthalmology (eye) cancer
• Oral and maxillofacial cancer
• Prostate cancer
• Sarcoma
• Stomach cancer
• Urologic cancer