Chicago Cancer Surgery
The physicians in City of Hope® Cancer Center Chicago’s Department of Surgery play an integral role for many of our patients. If you receive treatment with us, our surgeons will work closely with you and your entire cancer care team — which may include medical and radiation oncologists, hormone therapy experts and supportive care staff — to determine the most effective, least invasive surgical options for you. With decades of combined experience, our cancer surgeons prioritize procedures that preserve quality of life whenever possible.
Leading-Edge Surgical Oncology Services in Chicago
Innovative surgical care is central to our approach at City of Hope Chicago, bringing together advanced techniques and specialized expertise designed to provide the highest level of care. This commitment is reflected in the following offerings.
Advanced gastrointestinal (GI) cancer surgeries: Options include HIPEC, the Whipple procedure for pancreatic cancer and hepatic artery infusion (HAI) therapy for patients with advanced colorectal cancer that has spread to the liver.
Hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC): This complex technique allows surgeons to deliver targeted chemotherapy to the abdomen during a surgical procedure to target cancer cells.
Minimally invasive and robotic-assisted surgeries: These options use smaller incisions and can allow for a faster recovery. Robotic-assisted surgery uses advanced technology with enhanced visualization to help surgeons perform highly precise, effective procedures.
Mohs micrographic surgery: This specialized procedure is used to treat certain skin cancers, such as basal cell and squamous cell carcinoma. It has a very high cure rate — up to 99% — and removes the cancer in thin sections that are checked right away to ensure the remaining healthy skin has no detectable cancer cells.
Reconstructive microsurgery: This highly precise technique uses advanced magnification to repair or rebuild tissue in complex cases where traditional surgery might be less appropriate. This approach supports functional recovery, reduces scarring and is often used to restore form and quality of life after procedures such as mastectomy and radiation.
Tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte (TIL) therapy: This emerging cellular treatment uses the patient’s own immune cells, taken from a tumor, grown in a lab and retransplanted to help fight cancer. Chemotherapy is given first to prepare the body. TIL therapy is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for certain advanced melanoma cases.
In-house pathology lab: Located in the operating room, this lab allows pathologists to quickly examine tissue samples to confirm the cancer has been removed and help avoid additional surgeries.
Proactive management of a variety of side effects: These conditions are supported by multiple methods of pain management and prevention of lymphedema (a buildup of fluid in the body’s soft tissue).
What Sets Our Chicago Cancer Surgeons Apart?
Our Chicago cancer surgery center is composed of highly experienced surgeons who specialize in general, complex and high-risk procedures — all experts in their field and focused solely on treating cancer. Below are some of the cancer surgeries we offer at City of Hope Chicago.
The surgeons at our Chicago Breast Cancer Center use breast- and nipple-sparing techniques whenever possible and work closely with our plastic surgeons for reconstruction needs. Some are trained in oncoplastic surgery, combining plastic surgery techniques with surgical cancer removal for better cosmetic results.
Dermatologic surgeons at City of Hope Chicago treat skin cancers and other complex skin conditions with precision and specialization, offering procedures like Mohs micrographic surgery that remove tumors while minimizing scarring and supporting faster healing. From cancer removal to seamless facial reconstruction, our dermatology and plastic surgery specialists collaborate to achieve the best possible results.
At City of Hope Chicago, our GI surgeons offer expert treatment for cancers and complex conditions of the digestive system using leading-edge surgical techniques. Our care has been recognized for nearly four decades with accreditation by the American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer, highlighting our commitment to excellence in treatment for GI and other cancers.
Our gynecologic oncologists treat cancers of the female reproductive system using minimally invasive and robotic-assisted surgery. These techniques allow for allow for more precise treatment, often resulting in less pain, bleeding and scarring, as well as lower infection risk and quicker recovery.
Our otolaryngology, or ear, nose and throat (ENT) team, treats head and neck cancers with highly specialized procedures, including transoral robotic surgery (TORS) and laser ablation, which removes tumors through the mouth without additional incisions.
Our neurosurgeons treat cancers of the brain, spine and nervous system using advanced techniques, including minimally invasive surgery and, in some cases, intraoperative electrophysiology, or “brain mapping,” during surgery to make the process as safe as possible.
Our orthopedic surgeons treat tumors and other conditions of the bones, muscles and connective tissues with advanced, comprehensive surgical care. They use arthroscopic and minimally invasive techniques to improve mobility, enhance quality of life and support faster recovery with fewer side effects.
City of Hope Chicago’s plastic surgery team are experts in reconstructive surgeries for a wide range of cancer types. They can perform immediate breast reconstruction at the same time as breast cancer surgery, including implant reconstruction immediately following mastectomy or oncoplastic breast lift/reduction immediately following lumpectomy. They also offer various forms of autologous reconstruction, including DIEP flap reconstruction, as well as procedures to prevent or manage breast-cancer-related lymphedema.
Thoracic surgery, which can be used to diagnose and treat cancer types at all stages, is a frequent procedure for lung cancer patients. Our surgeons offer minimally invasive options for qualifying patients, including video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS), a lung-sparing technique that uses smaller incisions, removes less tissue and supports faster recovery.
With expertise in urinary cancers and complex urologic conditions, City of Hope Chicago urologists perform a variety of specialty procedures, many with robotic assistance. These include reconstructive techniques to help preserve continence and sexual function, and bladder-sparing treatment as a possible alternative to bladder removal surgery.
Our skin, wound and ostomy care specialists educate patients about the best ways to manage wounds related to cancer care and the stoma, which are openings created in the body after certain cancer treatments.
Our Chicago Surgery Team
The cancer surgery department at City of Hope Chicago is home to fellowship-trained and board-certified surgical oncologists who are experts in treating a wide range of conditions, including breast and gynecologic cancers, urologic cancers, brain tumors and head and neck cancers. Our surgeons work closely with your other cancer doctors to ensure that surgery goes hand in hand with your individualized cancer care plan. They also lead the Advanced Surgical Recovery Program (ASURE), which pairs each patient with a multidisciplinary team that includes surgeons, nurses, anesthesiologists and supportive care staff to help patients recover from surgery faster, with shorter hospital stays and lower complications.
Meet our cancer surgeons:
Dr. Bhakta specializes in oncoplastic breast cancer surgery, which combines traditional breast cancer surgery with reconstructive plastic surgery techniques.
Dr. Buttin treats all gynecologic cancers and specializes in minimally invasive surgical techniques, including robotic surgery. She has performed over 1,500 robotic cases to date.
Dr. Halabi is highly skilled in minimally invasive, advanced techniques and technologies for gynecologic and gastrointestinal cancers, including cytoreductive surgery combined with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy.
Dr. Hamming has over 15 years of experience in arthroscopic and minimally invasive orthopedic surgical procedures.
Dr. Khan specializes in evaluating and treating prostate cancer, bladder cancer, kidney cancer and testicular cancer, and is an expert in laparoscopic and robotic-assisted surgeries.
Dr. Li treats a wide range of conditions, specializing in complex gastrointestinal cancers, soft tissue disease and hepato-pancreato-biliary conditions and using advanced and minimally invasive techniques.
Dr. Liu specializes in all forms of breast reconstruction, as well as microsurgical procedures for lymphedema treatment.
Dr. Patel is a urologist specializing in genitourinary cancers. He is an expert in urologic surgery, including minimally invasive, laparoscopic and robotic-assisted.
Dr. Pelletier is an expert in complex and minimally invasive surgical techniques for reconstruction of parts of the body.
Dr. Singh is a dermatologist and Mohs micrographic surgeon, diagnosing and treating a wide range of skin cancers. To date, he has performed more than 10,000 Mohs surgeries.
Dr. Winchester is a surgical oncologist with nearly three decades of surgical experience, including procedures for breast, skin and thyroid cancers.
Dr. Ziegler is a board-certified otolaryngologist and fellowship-trained expert in head and neck cancer surgeries.
Make an Appointment With Our Cancer Surgeons
While advanced surgeries are performed at our main hospital in Zion, Illinois, surgical consultations and several outpatient procedures are available at our North Shore and Downtown Chicago locations.