Contact Us
To learn more about surgical oncology treatment at UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, call 412-692-2852.
Learn MoreUPMC Hillman Cancer Center is part of the UPMC family.
As of Wednesday, Feb. 12, it is recommended that patients, visitors, and staff wear a mask when entering UPMC clinical buildings.
Explore this Section
Because cancer can affect nearly any structure, tissue, or organ system within the body, treatments vary.
For some types of cancer, surgery is the most favorable option. For many other cancers, doctors use a mix of treatments including surgery to bring about the best possible outcome.
UPMC Hillman Cancer Center offers the latest and most advanced surgical techniques. In many cases, our globally recognized surgeons helped invent or refine the procedures they perform.
When you receive cancer surgery with us, you can feel sure that your care is in the best possible hands.
Contact Us
To learn more about surgical oncology treatment at UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, call 412-692-2852.
Learn MoreOur cancer surgeons perform many advanced and minimally invasive techniques, such as:
Learn more about surgical oncology techniques for types of cancers we treat below.
UPMC Hillman Cancer Center's neurosurgical oncologists use many minimally invasive surgical techniques for brain cancer. They allow surgeons to approach tumors, once thought unresectactable, more safely.
Neuroendoport® surgery is an advanced technique where surgeons use an endoscope to gain access to deep regions of the brain.
During an awake craniotomy, the anesthetist keeps the patient awake but pain-free. This lets the neurosurgical team map areas of motor and speech before tumor removal. Surgeons can then remove a greater portion of the tumor and lessen damage to healthy tissue.
The surgical oncologists at the Magee-Womens Breast Cancer Program of UPMC Hillman Cancer Center have advanced training in minimally invasive breast cancer procedures.
Surgical options to remove cancerous and noncancerous tumors of the breast include:
Plastic and reconstructive breast surgery options are also available.
Our endocrine and thyroid cancer surgery experts work together to devise a treatment plan for your specific situation. Treatments may include endocrine gland surgery, head and neck surgery, and dentistry and maxillofacial surgery.
UPMC's Endocrine Surgery Program is a national leader in the diagnosis and treatment of endocrine cancer.
The Multidisciplinary Thyroid Center's world-class surgeons have a proven track record in a variety of advanced surgical techniques, including:
Our surgeons are experts in highly specialized technologies and minimally invasive procedures to remove colorectal tumors.
UPMC Hillman Cancer Center offers many surgical options for colorectal and GI cancers, including:
Management of gynecologic cancer often includes surgical removal of the tumor. It may also include removing the pelvic organs.
Surgical oncologists at UPMC Hillman Cancer Center are experts in traditional, robotic, and minimally invasive techniques including:
Otolaryngologists and endocrine surgeons at UPMC Hillman Cancer Center have specialized training in minimally invasive techniques to remove head and neck tumors.
Traditionally, surgeries to remove cancer from these areas have resulted in large scars. They also diminished ability to breathe, swallow, or speak. Minimally invasive and robotic surgical advances allow qualified surgeons to perform head and neck cancer surgery with minimal scarring and disruption to functions.
Some tumors are too large or too entrenched for minimally invasive procedures. In these cases, our surgeons perform traditional open surgery. They keep incisions as small as possible to maximize the preservation of speaking, breathing, and swallowing.
The surgical oncologists of UPMC's Liver Tumor Program have vast experience in many techniques to treat liver cancer.
Some of these include:
Lung and esophageal cancer surgeons at UPMC Hillman Cancer Center perform many minimally invasive techniques to remove cancerous tumors.
Treatments and technologies for lung and esophagus cancers include:
Often, the first line of treatment for people with melanoma is surgery to remove the primary tumor and some surrounding tissue.
If the cancer has spread to the lung or stomach, the Melanoma and Skin Cancer Program at UPMC Hillman Cancer Center works with specialists to offer minimally invasive surgical options.
The surgical oncologists at UPMC Hillman Cancer Center have extensive skill in a variety of advanced pancreatic cancer surgery techniques.
About 80 percent of our pancreatic cancer patients undergo the Whipple procedure. And, up to 85 percent slated for the Whipple procedure are candidates for the robotic option. UPMC is one of only a handful of hospitals in the United States to use the robotic Whipple procedure.
The UPMC Pancreatic Cancer Treatment Program provides clinical services and leading-edge treatments, including:
UPMC Hillman Cancer Center urologic surgeons developed and refined several innovative surgeries for prostate and urologic cancers.
Surgical options for prostate and urologic cancers include:
UPMC Hillman Cancer Center surgeons have extensive skill in treating and managing bone and soft tissue sarcomas.
Many sarcomas require surgical removal along with chemotherapy and radiation therapy to prevent the cancer from returning.
Our orthopaedic surgeons use limb-sparing techniques to remove sarcomas when appropriate. This approach spares healthy surrounding tissue allowing for a quicker recovery with less postoperative pain.
Sarcoma Specialty Care and Treatment Program surgeons also have expertise in a number of highly specialized technologies.
These include: