An essential part of a world-recognized medical center, the Mount Sinai Surgical Oncology Care Team provides an innovative environment for international patients seeking cancer treatment abroad. Because patients diagnosed with cancer need an integrated team consulting on the unique aspects of their care, our interdisciplinary group of surgical oncologists, interventional radiologists, and other medical experts collaborates to personalize the best treatment approach for each patient. The Division of Surgical Oncology has also established strong, collaborative disease management programs with Mount Sinai’s other cancer-related disciplines in order to offer patients with a wide array of cancers the best chance for a cure.

“We approach each case individually and develop a customized treatment plan to suit the specific needs of every patient,” says Daniel Labow, MD, Division Chief of Surgical Oncology. “Our surgical oncologists are also uniquely trained in both the techniques of cancer surgery as well as how surgery fits into the overall goal of cancer care. We are committed to our patients throughout the healing process and beyond.”

The Division of Surgical Oncology's active research program brings the most promising and innovative developments from our laboratories to our patients. Our ongoing research explores areas including early cancer detection, tumor markers, cancer genetics, environmental risk factors, minimally-invasive surgical techniques, nonsurgical tumor ablation, down-staging of advanced cancer to allow for surgical resection, transplantation for tumors, anesthesia for cancer surgery, adjuvant treatment to prevent cancer recurrence, tumor vaccines, gene therapy, and non-chemotherapy treatment of advanced cancer.

Providing Advanced Surgical Oncology Treatments

Over the past two decades, the range of surgeries for abdominal cancers performed using minimally-invasive techniques has grown enormously, providing patients with a safe, quick, and efficient procedure that only requires a few small, relatively painless incisions. Mount Sinai's team most commonly performs minimally-invasive surgeries to treat cancers of the liver, colon, rectum, gastrointestinal system, pancreas, and stomach, resulting in less pain, shorter hospitalizations, and quicker recovery, without compromising the successful removal of the malignancy.

Mount Sinai is also home to one of the most internationally recognized programs for a unique cancer surgery called Hyperthermic Intraoperative Peritoneal Chemotherapy (HIPEC), which is a treatment that has been shown to significantly increase life expectancy for patients battling abdominal cancer. We also collaborate on research and clinical trials with many healthcare institutions around the world. 

Catering to Our International Clientele

The Division of Surgical Oncology strives to provide the most comfortable and convenient experience possible for our international patients by offering accommodations such as Eleven West, a premium patient floor that blends modern hospitality and a refined atmosphere to promote privacy and foster healing. Mount Sinai also partners with nearby hotels for the convenience of our patients and their families, and provides a range of other hospitality services, including translation services and travel assistance.

Our current clientele of international patients typically hails from Europe, Asia, Africa, the Middle East, and South America, and predominantly comes to us for cancer treatments in the following areas: 

• Pancreatic
• Hepatobiliary
• Colorectal
• Gastric
• Melanoma
• Soft tissue sarcoma
• Peritoneal malignancies 

To treat these areas, our surgical oncologists use advanced, minimally-invasive and open procedures that include the following: 

• Esophagectomy
• Gastrectomy
• Hyperthermic Intraoperative Peritoneal Chemotherapy (HIPEC)
• Liver resection
• Colorectal resection
• Pancreatic resection (Whipple, Distal Pancreatectomy)
• Splenectomy
• Radiofrequency (RFA)
• Transcatheter Arterial Chemoembolization (TACE)

The goal of the Division of Surgical Oncology is to integrate highly advanced minimally-invasive and open procedures in the surgical treatment of cancer to produce the best possible outcomes. We work collaboratively with referring physicians to provide the highest quality continuum of care for our patients.