LVH–Pocono Offering Comprehensive Cancer Care

Doctors and clinicians with cancer care expertise have recently joined Lehigh Valley Hospital (LVH)–Pocono, helping to make advanced cancer treatment – including complex surgical oncology procedures – available locally. 

“Cancer care truly needs to be comprehensive to attain the best possible outcomes,” says Jacqueline Oxenberg, DO, surgical oncologist with LVH–Pocono and Lehigh Valley Topper Cancer Institute.

“It’s a team sport, and I am only one component of the team,” she adds. “However, with my surgical oncology fellowship training, research background and dedication to providing high-quality care for patients, I am a key component in making care more accessible here locally.”

Dr. Oxenberg offers a range of open as well as robotic complex surgical oncology procedures, including robotic pancreatectomies, gastrectomies, adrenalectomies and hepatectomies, as well as many other complicated minimally invasive procedures.

“While not all surgeries can be performed robotically, open complex surgical oncology surgeries are now performed at LVH–Pocono, such as cytoreduction and heated intraperitoneal chemotherapy, which are performed for peritoneal carcinomatosis, pseudomyxoma peritonei and mesothelioma,” she says. 

Bogdan Protyniak, MD, a colorectal surgeon with LVPG Colon and Rectal Surgery–Pocono, offers minimally invasive colorectal surgery for conditions such as diverticulitis, colorectal cancer, inflammatory bowel disease, endoscopically unresectable colorectal polyps and rectal prolapse.

“The vast majority of colorectal resections performed in my practice are minimally invasive and are done using advanced robotic techniques,” Dr. Protyniak says. “Patients have less pain, recover faster and get back to their normal lives with minimal interruption.”

In addition to Drs. Oxenberg and Protyniak, other clinicians specializing in cancer care have also joined LVH–Pocono, including medical oncologists (Sheikh Ali, MD, and Dan Popescu, MD) and an ear, nose and throat surgeon (Jason Ohlstein, MD) who performs complex head and neck surgeries.

“Additionally, with our alliance with Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, LVH–Pocono has expanded clinical trials so people with cancer can have more treatment options and higher levels of care in our region,” Dr. Oxenberg says.

Doctors and clinicians can refer individuals at any stage of the cancer treatment process.

“When a biopsy leads to a cancer diagnosis, further workup needs to be performed to determine next steps,” Dr. Oxenberg notes. “I see patients in these situations and get them worked up appropriately and plugged into our team, which includes dedicated navigators who help coordinate care. I am also happy to provide second opinions to ensure people receive leading-edge cancer care.”