Surgical Cancer Care

While most growths in the adrenal glands are non-cancerous, cancer can grow in one or both of these glands. Though small, the adrenal glands produce hormones that affect almost every organ in the body. Surgery for adrenal glands can often be done robotically to speed up recovery and improve patient outcomes.

Ampullary cancer forms in an area called the ampulla of Vater, which is where the bile duct and pancreatic duct empty into the small intestine. Because of its proximity to other parts of the digestive system, surgery may involve the removal of parts of several organs including the small intestine, stomach, bile duct and pancreas.

Anal cancer develops as a mass on the skin and mucosa around the anal opening. Treatment of anal cancer usually involves chemotherapy and radiation. Sometimes surgery is required if other treatments don’t work.

Also called appendiceal cancer, this rare cancer is usually found during surgery for appendicitis. Removing the appendix is sometimes enough to treat small tumors, but often requires a larger surgery to remove a portion of the colon.

Bile duct cancer, also called cholangiocarcinoma, involves the ducts that connect the liver to the small intestine. Bile duct cancers should be treated by a specialist with expertise in cancers of the biliary tree. For small bile duct cancers, surgeons can remove part of the bile duct and join the cut ends. For more advanced cancers, nearby tissue in the liver, pancreas, or lymph nodes may need to be removed too.

Carcinoid tumors are a family of slow-growing cancers that are most commonly found in the digestive tract and are a subset of the broader neuroendocrine tumors. Treatment for carcinoid tumors usually includes surgery and may include medications.

Colon cancer is It is one of the most common cancers in the United States. Colon cancer forms in the large intestine from the lining called mucosa. Signs of colon cancer include rectal bleeding, bloating, constipation, weight loss and abdominal pain. Colon cancer is usually diagnosed by colonoscopy. Surgery to remove all or part of the colon is often required to treat colon cancer. Robotic surgery allows your surgeon to perform colectomies through small incisions and speed up your recovery.

The esophagus is a muscular tube that moves food from the mouth to the stomach. Cancer of the esophagus is often treated with esophagectomy to remove all or part of the esophagus. Treatment of esophageal cancer usually requires a combination of chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery. In the past recovery form esophageal surgery was a very long process, but robotic-assisted surgery has drastically improved the recovery after esophagectomy.

Gallbladder cancer is frequently found when the gallbladder is removed for another reason. If found in the earlier stages, surgery to remove the gallbladder (cholecystectomy) may be all that is needed. Cancer that extends into the liver is sometimes treated with surgery to remove the gallbladder and portions of the liver and bile ducts.

GISTs are usually found in the stomach and small intestine. Many require surgery to remove the tumor. Depending on the size of the tumor, surgery may be required before or after other targeted therapies.

Several types of cancer can develop in the liver, though it’s more common for another cancer to spread to the liver than form in the liver initially. Depending on the situation, your doctor may recommend surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, or other targeted therapies to treat liver cancer.

Your doctor may recommend a mediport for infusion of certain medications. A mediport is an implantable device that goes under the skin and connects to a main vein in your neck or chest. This device allows you to receive infusions of medications, IV fluids, and draw blood without having to stick a vein in your arm or hand.

Melanoma is a cancer that forms in pigment-producing cells called melanocytes. Most commonly melanoma is found in the skin, but rarely may occur elsewhere. Treatment for melanoma usually involves surgery to remove the tumor, and surrounding tissue, and may include surgery to sample the lymph nodes near the melanoma.

Neuroendocrine tumors are rare and can occur in the lungs, appendix, small intestine, rectum and pancreas. They may grow slowly or rapidly, depending on the type. If possible, surgery is an option to remove the tumor and the affected tissue around it.

Cancer of the pancreas can be difficult to treat but often requires surgery. The most common surgery to treat pancreatic cancer is called the Whipple procedure, a complex operation to remove the head of the pancreas, the first part of the small intestine, the gallbladder and the bile duct. Advanced Robotics of Louisiana has the largest number of surgeons in the region who perform minimally invasive robotic pancreatic surgery. Find out more about our pancreatic cancer screening program.

Parathyroid cancer develops in one of four parathyroid glands in your neck, which are part of your endocrine system. Surgery is the most common form of treatment for parathyroid cancer.

Rectal cancer develops in the last portion of the large intestine and is usually diagnosed by colonoscopy. Rectal cancer treatment can be complex and often involves a combination of surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation. Rectal cancer should be treated at a center that specializes in the treatment of rectal cancer to achieve the best outcomes. Baton Rouge General is recognized as meeting the highest standards of care by the National Accreditation Program for Rectal Cancer and the American College of Surgeons.

Sarcoma is a broad group of cancers that begin in the bones, muscles, and in soft tissues. There are more than 70 types of sarcoma, and treatment varies depending on the type, location and other factors. Surgery is usually a mainstay of sarcoma treatment.

There are several different types of skin cancer. Most commonly treatment for skin cancer includes surgery to remove the affected area of skin. Treatment may also include skin grafts and other treatments depending on the size, type, and where the cancer is located.

Also known as gastric cancer, Stomach cancer can be mistaken for less serious problems like indigestion or heartburn, so it’s often not diagnosed until an advanced stage. For early stomach cancers, surgery might be the first treatment or it may require chemotherapy in addition to surgery. Removing part of the stomach is called a partial gastrectomy, and removing the entire stomach is a total gastrectomy. Robotic surgery allows our surgeons to remove the stomach through small incisions and speed up your recovery after surgery.

The thyroid gland lies in the neck and helps regulate several hormones in the body. Most types of thyroid cancer grow slowly, but some types can be very aggressive and may travel to the lymph nodes. Most people with thyroid cancer that requires treatment will undergo surgery to remove all or part of the thyroid.