Liver, pancreas and biliary care in Wisconsin

When you choose Ascension Wisconsin Cancer Care, you get a team of experienced gastrointestinal (GI) cancer doctors in Milwaukee and surrounding communities in Southeast Wisconsin who specialize in diagnosing and treating bile duct, pancreas and liver cancer. These doctors are called hepatobiliary specialists and work with gastroenterologists, oncologists and surgeons sharing best practices and the latest in cancer treatment and research – bringing the best of cancer care to you.

Advanced care for conditions that affect your abdomen

At Ascension Wisconsin sites of care, we have doctors who specialize in hepatopancreatobiliary and foregut conditions, including malignant and benign tumors, injuries, and strictures that affect the liver, pancreas, bile ducts, gallbladder, and bowels.

Every appointment with your specialist starts with a compassionate conversation. Your doctor answers your questions and gets to know you. So, you get a personalized cancer care plan. And with a plan, comes hope. We will help you navigate your care and will be by your side every step of the way, connecting the dots. Our goal is to help you get back to home, family, life and self sooner.

Hepatobiliary Clinic provides advanced care for liver, pancreas and biliary cancer

At Ascension Wisconsin Cancer Care, we have a dedicated hepatobiliary clinic in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Our specialists diagnose and treat hepatopancreatobiliary and foregut conditions, including:

• Benign liver tumors and cysts
• Bile duct cancer (also called cholangiocarcinoma)
• Gallbladder cancer
• Metastatic liver cancer
• Pancreatic cancer

Multidisciplinary doctors for hepatopancreatobiliary cancer care

Your doctor and care team work together with you on a care plan. First, you will meet with a specialist and care team to discuss your diagnosis and care options. Your doctor will answer your questions, paying attention to your physical and emotional needs and those of your caregivers, including changes in your diet. In addition to your gastroenterologist and surgeon, your care team may include a medical oncologist, radiation oncologist, radiation therapist, oncology-certified nurses, dietitian, social worker, chaplain and supportive palliative care specialist. And your entire care team stays connected to discuss your treatment and progress. As your care needs change, we’re ready to support you.

Schedule an appointment, call 414-298-7133

Meet our team

At Ascension Wisconsin sites of care, our experienced hepatopancreatobiliary specialists include:

• Atuhani S. Burnett, MD, PhD, FACS, Chief of Surgical Oncology
• Xu Zhao, MD
• Maggie Gierahn, PA-C
• Hanna Olson, PA-C
• Medical oncologists
• Radiation oncologists
• Interventional radiologists
• Gastroenterologists

Advanced treatments and therapies for hepatopancreatobiliary conditions

Our specialists deliver advanced hepatopancreatobiliary and foregut tumor treatments and therapies, including:

• Chemotherapy, anti-biologic therapy and immunotherapy: Medical oncologists provide drug treatments that are right for you, at convenient locations that are close to home. Our medical oncologists may also refer qualified candidates to our Ascension Research clinical trial coordinator in Wisconsin.
• Liver-directed therapies: Interventional radiologists use minimally invasive procedures to deliver embolization treatments.
• Endoscopic treatments: Gastroenterologists perform endoscopic ultrasound for tumor biopsies, advanced endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) techniques to treat biliary strictures, and endoscopic tumor resections when appropriate.
• Radiation therapy: Using precise mapping strategies, radiation oncologists treat liver and biliary tumors with high-dose external beam radiation. The shape of the radiation beam conforms to the shape of the tumor to reduce the radiation exposure to healthy tissue.
• Surgery: Our experienced surgeons surgically remove tumors and help improve your recovery after surgery.
• Hepatopancreatobiliary procedures include pancreatoduodenectomy, also known as the Whipple procedure, to surgically remove the head of the pancreas, bile duct and lymph nodes around the bile duct to treat cholangiocarcinoma (bile duct cancer), liver tumors, and pancreatic cancer. Distal pancreatectomy is a procedure to surgically remove pancreatic tumors in the tail of the pancreas.
• Nonsurgical tumor ablation: Specialists perform minimally invasive ablation procedures using heat, cold or an electric current to destroy a cancerous tumor in the pancreas, liver or kidney.
• Treatment for cancers that are metastatic to the liver: Cancer specialists at Ascension Wisconsin deliver advanced care for cancer that has spread to your liver. Getting the right treatment can help make a difference in your symptoms and quality of life. At Ascension Wisconsin, our cancer care teams provide treatments for metastatic liver cancer, such as:
• Chemotherapy to destroy or shrink the tumor
• Surgical tumor removal
• Nonsurgical tumor ablation (called percutaneous ablation)
• Radiation therapy to help control spread of disease
• Transarterial radioembolization (TARE), an internal radiation therapy

If multiple tumors are detected in the lobes or outside the liver, we can provide surgical consultations to determine if you are a candidate for surgery. And our surgical team can connect you with other specialists and advanced care options for your needs.

Ascension Wisconsin cancer centers participate in ongoing clinical trials. To learn more, visit the Ascension Wisconsin Research Institute website.

Abdominal surgery for cancer with an enhanced recovery care plan

If your care plan includes surgery or bowel reconstruction, surgeons at Ascension Wisconsin use the latest surgical techniques to help improve your recovery and quality of life. Your care team may also refer to enhanced recovery pathways as part of your surgical care plan. They are an important part of our cancer treatment programs. Each pathway is personalized for different types of cancer treatments, to help speed up your recovery after surgery. Throughout your care, your care team uses these protocols to help you prepare for what to expect before, during and after surgery.

Team approach helps navigate tests and support services

Along the way, your care may require imaging, lab tests, pharmacy support, nutrition counseling or other specialists, including:

• Genetics– If you are high-risk or have a family history of cancer, we deliver genetic screening, testing and counseling to help you and your doctor better understand your risk for developing cancer.
• Support programs and resources – Your cancer care team provides support from nutrition education and counseling to cancer support groups and spiritual care. And, at Ascension Wisconsin sites of care, our healing gardens and chapels are always open to patients and their loved ones. The Ascension Wisconsin Cancer Survivorship Program has activities that support the whole you.

You do not have to navigate your care alone. Your care team will help you schedule appointments, connect with other services and support groups, and answer your questions. From your first consultation and throughout your ongoing care, you and your doctor will stay connected through in-person and virtual visits. When you come into the clinic for your appointments, know that we’re maintaining strict precautions to keep you safe in our care.

Get a second opinion on your cancer diagnosis or care plan

Get the confidence and peace of mind that your doctor and care plan are right for you. It's easy to get a second opinion at Ascension Wisconsin. We can review your medical records and healthcare history to answer your questions and discuss options. Talk with one of our doctors about a personalized care plan.

When you are facing a new cancer diagnosis or are deciding on a surgical or therapeutic treatment plan, there’s a lot to think about. Our cancer specialists can provide a second opinion, based on our experience and as part of a national team.

Before your appointment, check with your insurance company to find out if a second opinion is covered. We can request your medical records on your behalf, so that they can be shared with your care team before your arrival.

CALL 414-298-7133

Financial assistance and support are available

We can connect you with resources and programs that may be able to help you and your family with options for financial assistance. Our financial counseling team is here to listen to your concerns and work with you to help find options that meet your needs.

Cancer centers close to home

Southeast Wisconsin Cancer Centers

• Ascension All Saints Hospital Cancer Center (Racine, Wisconsin)

• Ascension SE Wisconsin Hospital - Mayfair Road Cancer Care (Wauwatosa, Wisconsin)

• Polly and Bill Van Dyke Cancer Center - Ascension Columbia St. Mary’s Hospital - Milwaukee Campus (Milwaukee, Wisconsin)

• Polly and Bill Van Dyke Cancer Center - Ascension Columbia St. Mary’s Hospital - Ozaukee Campus (Mequon, Wisconsin)

• Reiman Cancer Center - Ascension Wisconsin Health Center - Rawson Avenue (Franklin, Wisconsin)

• Sherman Cancer Center - Ascension SE Wisconsin Hospital - Elmbrook Campus (Brookfield, Wisconsin)

Northeast Wisconsin Cancer Centers

• Ascension Calumet Hospital Cancer Care (Chilton, Wisconsin)

• Ascension NE Wisconsin - St. Elizabeth Campus Cancer Center (Appleton, Wisconsin)

• Michael D. Wachtel Cancer Center - Ascension NE Wisconsin - Mercy Campus (Oshkosh, Wisconsin)

Frequently asked questions