Comprehensive Approach to Cancer Care

When a person receives a cancer diagnosis, the next steps are crucial. A patient might require different types of treatments, such as surgery, chemotherapy, or radiation—or a combination of any or all of the three. It’s important to have a team of experts to guide treatment, something Dr. Mark Steves, Surgical Oncologist at Holy Cross Health, knows very well.

Here, Dr. Steves shares his approach to comprehensive cancer care and why taking a holistic approach is so effective along one’s cancer journey.

Specialized Expertise

Dr. Steves’ scope of practice is centered around liver and pancreatic cancer cases, gastric cancer cases, small bowel cancer cases, and colorectal cancer cases. Another one of his specialties is sarcoma, which Dr. Steves describes as a “fleshy tumor.”

“Most of sarcomas occur in the extremities, in the muscles, arms, legs, shoulders, and back, but several of them do occur in the abdomen in the peritoneal cavity, and I do a lot of surgery for th ose. Then, there's a very specialized sarcoma of the GI system, the bowels, called gastrointestinal stromal tumor,” he explains. “I have been dealing with that disease before we even knew what actually it was.”

Multi-Modality Approach to Cancer Treatment

Most cancers require multiple treatment modalities: chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and surgery. Deciding the treatment path also involves multiple decision makers—including the patient. 

“We have to take the patient through that path and have them understand what we're doing, what our ultimate goals are, and we need to have shared decision-making about that,” notes Dr. Steves. “This can be very difficult for patients because once they hear the word cancer, it is such a powerful word they tend not to listen or not effectively listen to what you have to say. Sometimes, it takes several visits to help them understand what this all entails.”

He also explains that initial meetings with patients often last well over an hour. This helps physicians and surgeons build a strong foundational relationship with the patient and their family members. “Time is needed to build that relationship and that rapport, to help the patient understand the complex
information being given to them,” adds Dr. Steves. 

Importance of Holistic, Whole-Person Care

A comprehensive approach to cancer care also means taking the whole person into account when designing their treatment plan. This includes the patient's personal history, their experiences, their preferences, and their circumstances.

“By knowing who they are, we can help guide them through the myriad of decisions that need to be made for their cancer care,” shares Dr. Steves. “The whole is greater than the sum of its parts, so the more we know, the better we are able to understand the patient and also help guide them through their surgical journey.”