Departments

The Ocular Oncology Program at Smilow Cancer Hospital cares for patients with benign and malignant tumors of the eye, the eyelids, and the orbit. It is one of only a few centers in the nation dedicated full-time to ocular oncology within a cancer hospital. As most cancers of the eye and orbit are rare, treatment at a center with extensive expertise and experience is important. Our ocular oncology team is dedicated to individualized and integrated care for each patient. The Ocular Oncology Program at Smilow collaborates with caregivers in other specialties including melanoma, breast cancer, neuro-oncology, radiation oncology, pediatric oncology, and lung cancer. We treat the following conditions: Tumors and cancers of the eyelids, conjunctiva, cornea, lacrimal gland, and orbit Intraocular tumors of the iris, ciliary body, choroid, retina and optic disc Ocular melanoma Retinoblastoma Ocular metastases Lymphoma Hemangioblastoma Hemangioma Astrocytoma Nevus von Hippel-Lindau Tuberous sclerosis Gliomas

The Head and Neck Cancers Program at Smilow Cancer Hospital provides total care, as well as innovative and organ-sparing treatment options to patients with cancers of the head and neck. Our team sets the tone nationally and internationally for clinical trials and state-of-the-art cancer care. By carefully balancing treatment efficacy with quality-of-life, our collaborative approach to care personalizes treatment for tumors affecting the neck, larynx (voice box), pharynx (throat), oral cavity (mouth), ear, sinuses, tonsils, and salivary glands, as well as cervical (neck) lymph nodes or neck structures. Our multidisciplinary team includes head and neck surgeons, radiation oncologists, medical oncologists, pathologists, physical therapists, speech-language pathologists, nutritionists, a smoking cessation specialist, dentists, a physical/lymphedema therapist, advanced practice nurses, and social workers. Functional outcome is an important element in deciding which treatment approach is recommended. Our program offers a promising new surgical technique, transoral robotic surgery (TORS), that can be used to remove certain throat cancers while avoiding skin and bone incisions. This approach speeds healing and shortens a patient’s hospital stay. Likewise, patients with certain laryngeal cancers, who a few years ago would have lost their vocal cords and their voices, can often be treated with less invasive surgeries. Patients who undergo these treatments maintain their ability to speak, although they may need to alter their diet or learn new swallowing techniques. At Yale, rehabilitative specialists work with patients to help them adjust to and overcome some of these swallowing impairments. In many cases, radical neck dissections have been replaced by less radical surgeries that preserve the nerves, arteries, and muscles in the neck. Patients continue to move, speak, breathe, and eat normally after less radical surgeries, without sacrificing cure rates. Additionally, in recent years, the field of reconstructive surgery has achieved many breakthroughs, yielding previously unattainable cosmetic and functional outcomes. Medical Oncology Our medical oncologists have unique expertise in head and neck cancers and dedicate their practice entirely to cancers of the head and neck. The integration of chemotherapy with radiation has become very important for patients with head and neck cancers that involve the lymph nodes or is locally extensive, and this approach can lead to organ preservation and increase the chance of cure for many patients. Breakthroughs in targeted therapy and biomarkers allow a personalized approach that can avoid the toxicities of conventional chemotherapy in some cases, and new treatments to prevent recurrence in high-risk situations are also being studied. For patients with recurrent disease, new anti-cancer drugs and immunotherapies are also available. A study led by Yale Cancer Center revealed that the checkpoint inhibitor pembroli

Yale ophthalmologists are committed to addressing the most complex eye problems with vision-saving care. We provide a complete range of services that address minor problems like pink eye to major diseases and conditions, including glaucoma, cataracts, and macular degeneration. We provide medical and surgical care for retinal disease, strabismus, and uveitis, as well as reconstructive and aesthetic ophthalmic plastic surgery and pediatric ophthalmology. Our patient-friendly clinic includes on-site services such as corneal topography, electrophysiologic testing, fluorescein angiography, fundus photography, lasers, optical coherence tomography (OCT), and visual fields. Our practice includes not only highly esteemed physicians, but also world-renowned researchers, which means our patients have access to the latest treatments and advances. Specialized care is offered in the following areas: Comprehensive eye care Cornea, cataract, and refractive surgery Diabetic eye care Glaucoma Neuro-ophthalmology Ocular immunology/uveitis Ocular oncology Optometry and contact lenses Orbital and reconstructive ophthalmic plastic surgery Pediatric ophthalmology Retina, macula, and vitreous diseases New injectable treatments for macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy to slow or halt vision loss Complex retina surgeries; specialized retina evaluation and care, including laser treatment for premature newborns; medical and surgical care of diabetic retinopathy and macular diseases Cataract surgery with optional premium lenses; donor and artificial corneal transplants Specialty fitting of contact lenses for aphakic adult and pediatric patients, corneal transplant patients, and keratoconus patients Complete spectrum of orbital and reconstructive ophthalmic plastic surgery and cosmetic eye surgery

The Skin & Kidney Cancer Program at Smilow Cancer Hospital brings together an extensive, multidisciplinary team to diagnose, treat, and care for patients with all types of skin cancers, including melanoma, as well as kidney cancers. Established over 30 years ago, our program includes experts in surgery, medical oncology, dermatology, urology, pathology, dermatopathology, radiology, genetics, and radiation oncology. Members of the team are national and international leaders in clinical and laboratory research focusing on improving treatment and outcomes for our patients. From patients who present with an early-stage diagnosis or more complex, metastatic disease, our team is prepared to provide each patient with the most comprehensive and cutting-edge treatment available. Each patient’s care is reviewed by our multidisciplinary care team to develop a personalized treatment plan. Clinical trials are also available to patients through Yale Cancer Center, bringing the latest treatment options to our clinics to benefit patients. Our doctors are at the forefront of melanoma and kidney cancer treatment and research, including novel immunotherapy approaches and the genetic characterization of kidney cancers. Smilow Cancer Hospital places great emphasis on taking care of all of our patients’ needs through a network of supportive care services. Nurses with dedicated knowledge and skills care for our patients through the continuum of their treatment. Patients and their families also have access to social workers to provide psychosocial support, as well as pastoral support, nutritional counseling, physical therapy, palliative care, and integrative medicine. After the initial diagnosis—and depending on the presentation of the disease—each patient is evaluated by our dermatologists, surgeons, urologists, and/or medical oncologists. For some presentations of melanoma and other skin cancers, particularly in the early stages in which disease has not spread beyond the primary site or lymph nodes close to the primary site, surgery may the preferred initial treatment. Specialized surgical expertise is essential for the management of melanoma and other skin cancers, which can occur on any skin site and even in areas not exposed to the sun. Some skin cancers appear in delicate areas such as the face, nose, ear, or hand and often require the expertise of a plastic surgeon. For certain regions of the body, our team collaborates with other highly trained surgical subspecialties, including thoracic surgery and neurosurgery. To care for kidney cancer, we work closely with oncologists and urologic surgeons. In the early stages of melanoma, pathology results from the tumor will determine the risk of developing metastases (spread to distant organs) in the future. If the results indicate a high risk for melanoma metastases, treatments are available to reduce the risk and possibly prevent or delay melanoma recurrence. Adjuvant therapies (or therapies given after surgery