Being diagnosed with gastrointestinal cancer, such as stomach, colon, or pancreatic cancer, can be a daunting and devastating experience for patients. However, Dr. Mio Kitano, a surgical oncologist at UT Health San Antonio, specializes in gastrointestinal tumors and malignancies and offers unique treatment options for patients.
When cancer spreads to the abdominal cavity, known as peritoneal carcinomatosis, patients are often given a prognosis of only a few months to live. Many people believe that this is a death sentence; however, Kitano offers hope through her innovative surgical techniques at UT Health San Antonio.
Kitano performs Cytoreductive surgery, also known as the “big surgery,” which targets cancer on the surface of abdominal organs. This surgery involves stripping the peritoneal lining that contains tumor deposits and removing dispensable organs with tumor deposits such as the spleen and parts of the small and large bowel. This is followed by hot chemotherapy to sterilize any microscopic cancer cells left behind. Kitano describes this surgery as a dramatic and comprehensive approach to treating gastrointestinal cancers.
Dr. Mio Kitano is an associate professor at the Department of Surgery and a surgical oncologist at the Mays Cancer Center at UT Health San Antonio. Through her research and innovative surgical techniques, she aims to provide effective treatment options for patients with advanced gastrointestinal cancers. The collaboration between TPR and The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio highlights how scientific discoveries in San Antonio are transforming the practice of medicine worldwide.
