As a physician, the most important things I can do for all my patients is to provide them with the best possible care. For most of my patients, I am the captain of the ship and I have a whole team of specialized physicians (surgical oncologist, radiation oncologist, interventional radiologist, pathologist, gastroenterologist, nuclear med etc), …
As a physician, one of the most challenging types of cancer to treat is locally advanced rectal cancer. These tumors have often grown to the point where surgery alone is not enough to remove all of the cancer and prevent recurrence. That’s why the standard of care for these patients is a treatment approach called …
As a newly diagnosed cancer patient, the thought of treatment can be overwhelming. It’s important to understand the different options available to you so that you can make informed decisions about your care. Here’s a quick rundown of the most common types of cancer treatment: Surgery: Surgery is a procedure in which a doctor removes …
Prognosis is a medical term that refers to the expected outcome of a disease, such as cancer. It’s a way for doctors to estimate how the disease may progress and what treatment options may be most effective. It’s important to understand that a prognosis is not a definite outcome. It’s an estimate based on many …
Cancer is a scary and overwhelming diagnosis, and one of the first steps in the treatment process is staging. Staging is the process of determining how much cancer is in a person’s body and where it is located. It helps doctors determine the best treatment options for each patient, and can also be used to …
When a lump or bump is found on a physical exam or a tumor/nodule/lesion is seen on imaging, it can be concerning. But how do we know for sure if it’s a malignant tumor vs a benign tumor? The answer is a biopsy. A biopsy is a procedure in which a small piece of the …
As a physician, I often hear the fear and uncertainty in my patients’ voices when they are first diagnosed with melanoma. It’s a serious and often deadly form of skin cancer, and it can be difficult to know where to turn for help. But I want my patients to know that there is hope, and …
Cancer treatment is never easy. Between appointments, medications and side effects, there’s a lot to navigate. Immunotherapy, also called immuno-oncology, offers an approach that is promising for many types of cancer. But what exactly is this treatment and how do you know if it’s right for you? How Immunotherapy Works Called a biological therapy, immunotherapy is a …
In Florida, we love our golf. With over 1,200 courses throughout the state, Florida can make a strong claim for Golf Capital of the World. Not Just Sunburn While no one would argue that golf isn’t a fun pastime, our year-round access to the sun-drenched links comes with an increased risk for a serious and …
Uveal melanoma is a type of cancer that affects the eye and is distinct from the more common cutaneous melanoma that affects the skin. It is a rare but aggressive cancer with a low tumor mutational burden and a 1-year overall survival rate of about 50% in patients with metastatic uveal melanoma. This means that …