Pioneering cancer care

Dr. Karen Barbosa, DO, FACOS, only sees beauty in the world around her. 

In the office, it’s in her patients as she combines plastic surgery and cancer surgery to optimize cosmetic outcomes after breast cancer. 

An experienced, top-tier breast surgeon, Dr. Barbosa is expanding TidalHealth’s advanced and comprehensive breast program to Delaware. She joins Dr. David Sechler and Dr. David Walker in support of women across Delmarva. 

Karen Barbosa, DO, FACOS of TidalHealth Breast Surgery specializes in detection and treatment of breast cancer. To schedule an appointment at her Millsboro or Seaford office location, visit tidalhealth.org.

“I’m excited to get out in the community and build something special in our backyard,” she said. “I’m so happy to be a part of TidalHealth, which shares my vision to bring leading-edge technology and treatments to the Shore.” 

 Breast fellowship and oncoplastic trained and board-certified in general surgery, Dr. Barbosa is highly trained and teaches faculty about oncoplastic reconstruction. She has presented on the national conference level, authored several medical publications and held numerous director roles. 

Dr. Barbosa earned her Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine from the Ohio University College of Osteopathic Medicine. She served as the chief surgical resident at Peninsula Hospital Center in New York and completed her breast oncology fellowship at the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio. 

When she isn’t caring for patients, Dr. Barbosa enjoys swimming, triathlons, music, art, photography and travel. 

To schedule an appointment at her Millsboro office, call 302-990-3300. 

 If you’re coping with a cancer diagnosis you may feel overwhelmed, but one thing is certain: you do not need to travel far from home for world-class care. 

With treatment offered in Ocean Pines, Salisbury and Seaford — and a surgical team to provide care as needed – TidalHealth’s Richard A. Henson Cancer Institute and Allen Cancer Center offer the most advanced care on the Shore. 

TidalHealth boasts an expanded research department that gives patients access to the latest clinical trials; surgical robots that improve precision and reduces pain; high-tech radiation equipment that preserves healthy tissue and reduces treatment times; and a unified healthcare team that creates individualized care plans and embraces the latest treatment methods. 

ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY 

Cancer patients in Sussex County now have a treatment option that is quicker and more precise. 

Stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT), a painless, non-invasive procedure that uses highly focused beams of radiation to destroy tumors in the body in three to five treatments, is now offered at the TidalHealth Allen Cancer Center in Seaford. 

SBRT is typically used for isolated small tumors where the accuracy of the technique can be fully utilized. In the cases where it’s applicable, SBRT allows the patient to finish treatment in one to two weeks, which is considerably shorter than standard radiation treatment plans. Reducing treatment time also helps to ease barriers that patients face in receiving their care. 

“SBRT uses linear accelerator driven radiation beams that deliver a high dose per treatment to obliterate the tumor while also conforming tightly to the tumor target to reduce the impact on surrounding normal tissue,” said John Mansueti, MD, TidalHealth’s Executive Medical Director of Cancer Services. “We strive to provide the best quality of care for our Seaford community, and the state-of-the-art SBRT treatment technique helps to achieve this mission.” 

CLINICAL RESEARCH 

For the past 18 years, TidalHealth has been building a robust research department and forging relationships with the Johns Hopkins Clinical Research Network and national cooperative groups for participation in clinical trials. 

Each patient enrolled in a clinical trial has a coordinator and/or nurse who facilitates their care, helps them understand the clinical trial process and follows up with them throughout the experience. 

Clinical trials are strictly regulated by the federal government to ensure they meet the highest scientific and ethical standards. 

So, how do you know if a clinical trial is right for you? 

Talking it over with your physician is a good first step; TidalHealth’s clinical research team works with doctors throughout the region to help get patients into appropriate trials. 

INTEGRATED CARE 

As a result of its dedication to offer standardized, patient-centered care, TidalHealth has been designated an Integrated Network Cancer Program by the American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer. 

All TidalHealth locations use the same Electronic Medical Record, enabling patients to access their records from any affiliated office. One medical director oversees radiation oncology for all three locations, and another physician has oversight over medical oncology at all three sites. 

Combined cancer conferences ensure the lines of communication are always open, and that all of TidalHealth’s cancer experts are reviewing cases together to ensure the best outcome. 

To learn more about cancer care at TidalHealth, visit tidalhealth.org.