Surgical oncology

Surgical oncology specialists at Ascension Saint Agnes provide personalized cancer care using advanced surgical techniques

Choose an experienced surgical oncologist in Baltimore

Surgical oncology specialists at Ascension Saint Agnes provide personalized cancer care using advanced surgical techniques

  • Call - 443-574-8500

Choose an experienced surgical oncology team in Baltimore

When you choose surgical oncology care at Ascension Saint Agnes, you’re supported by a compassionate care team that’s part of a national network of cancer specialists. Our experienced surgeons diagnose, stage and treat cancer using advanced surgical techniques guided by collaboration, clinical expertise and a personalized approach to care.

Every visit begins with a conversation. Your surgeon takes the time to listen to you, answer your questions, and understand what matters most to you. Together, your cancer team develops a care plan designed around your diagnosis, your goals and your overall health. We’re here to help you feel informed, supported and confident in your care.

Our goal is to help you navigate your treatment with clarity and support, while focusing on recovery and quality of life.

Surgical oncology care at Ascension Saint Agnes

Surgery can be an important part of cancer treatment and may be used alone or combined with other therapies like chemotherapy, radiation therapy, immunotherapy or reconstructive surgery. At Saint Agnes, your surgical oncology care plan is tailored to your specific diagnosis and coordinated closely with your broader cancer care team.

Our surgical oncologists use the latest techniques and image-guided technology to help remove tumors with precision while preserving healthy tissue whenever possible. If needed, we offer minimally invasive and robotic-assisted procedures that may support shorter hospital stays and recovery times.

When surgery is recommended, your surgeon will guide you through what to expect before, during and after your procedure, and your care team will be there to support your recovery.

Types of cancer we treat

Our surgical oncologists treat a wide range of cancers, including:

  • Adrenal masses/tumors
  • Breast cancer
  • Colorectal cancer
  • Endocrine cancers
  • Extremity sarcomas
  • Gastrointestinal (GI) cancers
  • Melanoma (skin cancer)
  • Mesenteric masses
  • Pancreatic and hepatobiliary cancer
  • Parathyroid diseases
  • Retroperitoneal/Intrabdominal sarcomas
  • Soft-tissue sarcomas
  • Splenic tumors
  • Thyroid nodules/tumors

Your care team works closely with medical and radiation oncologists to create a surgical treatment plan that’s personalized for your needs and overall care.

Surgical oncology services we offer

Ascension Saint Agnes offers a broad range of cancer services, including complex pancreatic and hepatobiliary surgery.

General surgical oncology procedures:
  • Surgical removal of benign (noncancerous) or cancerous tumors
  • Complete tumor and regional lymph node removal
  • Cancer staging using minimally invasive procedures
  • Mapping of the lymphatic system for breast cancer and melanoma
  • Removal of precancerous growths
  • Surgical management of cancer-related symptoms
  • Placement of implanted ports, PICC lines and chemotherapy infusion pumps

How we diagnose cancer

Your care team focuses on identifying if the tumor is noninvasive or invasive and to understand where the tumor began and whether or not the cancer has spread. We use advanced molecular studies to recognize cancer subtypes to create a care plan for your type of cancer.

To diagnose cancer, your doctor may recommend testing, such as:

A biopsy evaluates tissue or cells to help diagnose cancer and determine its stage.

Blood tests measure substances found in your blood and can help detect or monitor certain conditions, including cancer.

This scan uses X-rays and a computer to make 3-D images (often called slices) of your body. A CT scan can show any part of your body, including bones, muscles, fat, blood vessels and organs. CT scans are a lot more detailed than X-rays.

Blood tests can give your doctor a lot of information. They can see if certain elements in your blood are in a normal range. But in many cases, blood tests are only part of the information your doctor needs to make a diagnosis of a health condition. The diagnostic blood test will confirm or rule out if you have a certain condition or type of cancer. 

MRIs use a strong magnet, radio waves and a computer to make detailed images of organs and other structures inside your body. An MRI is often used to look at the heart, brain, liver, pancreas, male and female reproductive organs, and other soft tissues. MRIs can show even small changes in tissues. It can assess blood flow, find tumors, and diagnose many forms of cancer, evaluate infections and assess injuries to bones and joints.

Ultrasounds use high-energy sound waves to create images of blood vessels, tissues and organs.

Cancer treatments

Cancer is personal — and so is the way we care for you. Your doctor will recommend a treatment plan based on your diagnosis, health and other factors.

Our multidisciplinary team offers many different treatment options, including:

Pancreatic procedures:

A distal pancreatectomy may be an option if cancer is in the body or tail of the pancreas. During surgery, your surgeon removes the part of the pancreas that contains the cancer. The spleen may also be removed, if needed. This surgery may be performed using a traditional open incision or minimally invasive technique with smaller incisions.

Pancreatic debridement and drainage is a procedure to remove damaged or infected tissue from the pancreas and drain fluid that has built up around it. This can help relieve symptoms, treat infection and support the pancreas as it heals.

A Whipple operation is a surgery to remove the part of the pancreas where cancer is most often found, along with nearby organs and tissues. The procedure helps remove cancer while preserving digestive function when possible.

Liver procedures:

This procedure removes fluid from a cyst in the liver using a needle or small tube. It can help relieve pain, pressure or discomfort caused by a large or problematic cyst.

A liver biopsy is a procedure to remove a small piece of liver tissue so it can be examined under a microscope. The results can help doctors diagnose liver cancer or other liver conditions and recommend the right care plan for you.

During a partial hepatectomy, your surgeon removes the part of the liver that contains the tumor. This surgery may be recommended when the tumor can be safely removed and the remaining liver is healthy enough to function well.

A partial hepatectomy may not be an option if a tumor is too large, cancer is in several areas of the liver, the tumor has grown into a major blood vessel, cancer has spread to other parts of the body or the remaining liver is not healthy enough.

Biliary procedures:

Bile duct resection is surgery to remove part or all of a bile duct affected by cancer or another serious condition. After removing the affected area, your surgeon creates a new pathway so bile can continue to flow from the liver to the intestine.

An extended cholecystectomy is surgery to remove the gallbladder, along with a small amount of nearby liver tissue and nearby lymph nodes. It is commonly performed to treat gallbladder cancer and help remove as much of the cancer as possible.

A simple cholecystectomy is surgery to remove the gallbladder. It is commonly performed to treat gallstones or other gallbladder problems.

GI tumors/procedures:

Small and large intestine surgery removes part of the small intestine, large intestine or both. It may be performed to treat cancer or other serious bowel conditions and help restore digestive function when possible.

Skin cancer procedures:

Flap reconstruction is surgery that uses healthy tissue from another part of the body to repair and rebuild an area after cancer surgery or another major procedure. It can help restore appearance and function.

Lymph node dissection is surgery to remove lymph nodes so they can be checked for cancer or to remove lymph nodes that contain cancer. The results help doctors understand how far cancer has spread and plan the most appropriate treatment.

A sentinel lymph node biopsy is a procedure to remove and test the first lymph node or nodes where cancer is most likely to spread. The results help your doctor determine whether cancer has spread and guide treatment decisions.

Wide local excision is surgery to remove a tumor along with a small amount of healthy tissue around it. Removing this extra tissue helps lower the chance that cancer cells are left behind.

Benefits of choosing Ascension Saint Agnes for surgical oncology care

At Ascension Saint Agnes, your care extends beyond surgery. You’ll have face-to-face visits with your specialist and support from a multidisciplinary team focused on your treatment, recovery,and well-being.

Your surgical oncologist works closely with medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, nurses, and your cancer care team to support you with coordinated, personalized care from diagnosis through recovery.

When you choose Ascension Saint Agnes, you can expect:

  • Highly experienced surgeons who perform the latest surgical techniques in well-equipped surgery suites
  • Minimally invasive technology, including image-guided, endoscopic, laser, laparoscopic and robotic surgery available onsite
  • Coordinated care at every step, from pre-operative testing and consultations to recovery
  • If you need additional imaging, lab testing, pharmacy or specialists, we’ll help connect the dots for your care
  • Access to personalized wound healing services, and rehabilitation and physical therapy after surgery, if needed

Your care team will also help coordinate supportive services, including:

  • Medication management
  • Nutrition counseling
  • Physical therapy and rehabilitation services
  • Wound healing specialists

Support programs and resources

Your cancer care team provides support from nutrition education and counseling to cancer support groups, yoga and spiritual care. At Ascension Saint Agnes sites of care, our healing gardens and chapels are always open to patients and your loved ones. We offer supportive care and activities for the whole you.

Get a second opinion on your surgical care plan

A second opinion can help you feel confident in your diagnosis and treatment options. At Ascension Saint Agnes, our cancer specialists offer second opinions as part of an integrated national network of care.

We will review your medical records, imaging, and health history to discuss your options and answer your questions. Whether you’re newly diagnosed or considering surgery, our team is here to support informed decision-making.

Before your visit, we recommend checking with your insurance provider to confirm coverage for a second opinion. If needed, our team can help request medical records from your current provider so they’re available before your appointment.

Schedule an appointment - 443-574-8500

Providers: Refer a patient to a surgical oncologist

When you refer a patient to Ascension Saint Agnes, they can expect compassionate, personalized care from the first point of contact. Our specialists take time to listen, understand each patient’s needs and develop an individualized surgical care plan in coordination with their care team.

Providers: To refer a patient, call - 443-574-8500

Financial assistance and support is available

We understand that managing cancer care can create financial concerns for patients and families. Ascension Saint Agnes offers financial counseling and can help connect you with resources and programs that may provide assistance.

Our financial counselors are available to listen, answer questions and help explore options that may be available to you.

Free parking is available on site.

If you are experiencing a life-threatening emergency, go directly to the ER or call 911.

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