Cancer Treatments

Hematology and medical oncology focus on treating and managing blood disorders and cancers using systemic therapies, such as: 

• Chemotherapy: Uses powerful drugs to target and kill cancer cells. 
• Targeted therapy: Attacks specific cancer cell proteins or genes. 
• Immunotherapy: Boosts the body’s immune system to fight cancer. 
• Hormonal therapy: Blocks or lowers hormone levels to slow or stop cancer growth. 

Histotripsy is a new, innovative treatment option that uses focused ultrasound waves to precisely destroy cancer cells in the liver without needles or incisions.

NGMC Gainesville is the only hospital in the state of Georgia to offer histotripsy for liver tumor treatment.

Radiation oncology utilizes high-dose radiation therapy to destroy or damage cancer cells while minimizing harm to surrounding healthy tissue. Treatment options include: 

• High-Dose Rate Brachytherapy (HDR)
• Stereotactic Radiotherapy (SRT)
• Optune Therapy for Glioblastoma

Surgical oncology involves the use of specialized surgery to diagnose, stage and treat cancer. Our surgical oncologists use varying techniques, including: 

• Minimally invasive robotic surgery: Provides precision and faster recovery times. 
• Radiofrequency ablation: Uses heat to destroy cancer cells. 
• Reconstructive surgery: Helps restore function and appearance after cancer treatment. 

Endoscopic Ultrasound (EUS) allows:

• better visualization of the digestive tract and pancreas to help determine the size and location of tumors in the pancreas and whether cancer has spread to nearby blood vessels and organs
• passage of a needle into the tumor to obtain samples for a quicker and more accurate diagnosis

At Northeast Georgia Medical Center, EUS is performed by Neeraj Sharma, MD, of Gastroenterology Associates of Gainesville.

Minimally invasive cancer surgery is surgery performed through small incisions. Using specialized techniques (either laparoscopically or robotically with the da Vinci Surgical Robot), miniature cameras with microscopes, tiny fiber-optic flashlights and high-definition monitors, the entire operation is performed through an incision that requires only a stitch or two to close. 

Minimally invasive cancer surgery allows the patient to recover more quickly with less pain and blood loss. 

Radiofrequency ablation works by inserting a thin needle guided by computed tomography (CT) or ultrasound through the skin and into a tumor. Electrical energy delivered through this needle heats and destroys the tumor. During the following months, dead cells turn into a harmless scar. During the short RF ablation treatment, patients are under general anesthesia. 

In most cases a tumor can be adequately treated with one treatment session. A treatment takes about 15 minutes. Typically, RF ablation creates a zone of tissue destruction 3 – 5 centimeters in size. 

After treatment, patients spend a night in the hospital and go home the next day. The procedure can be repeated if new cancer appears. 

Reconstructive surgery is performed by plastic surgeons who reconstruct the area affected by surgical cancer removal.

The sentinel lymph node is the first lymph node to which cancer is likely to spread from the primary tumor. Cancer cells may appear in the sentinel node before spreading to other lymph nodes. In some cases, there can be more than one sentinel lymph node.

SLN biopsy is a procedure in which the sentinel lymph node is removed and examined under a microscope to determine whether cancer cells are present. 

A stereotactic breast biopsy is a safe and minimally invasive form of breast biopsy. It is used to obtain tiny samples from an abnormal breast mass for examination by a pathologist. Biopsies are the only definitive way to confirm if a breast abnormality is benign (non-cancerous) or not.

The surgeons of Northeast Georgia Health System participate in national research trials with the goal of improving surgical care for cancer patients. View our list of current clinical trials.