Urologic Cancer
The Department of Urology’s Urologic Oncology Program provides comprehensive care for patients with urologic cancers at the South Waterfront, Marquam Hill, and Adventist Health Portland campuses within the OHSU Health System. We offer a wide range of leading-edge surgical cancer treatments including advanced open, laparoscopic and robotic approaches. For referred patients or those seeking a second opinion, we are committed to prompt evaluation and coordinated, compassionate cancer care. We provide streamlined access both for patients and referring physicians.
Multidisciplinary approach
We value the multi-disciplinary approach to cancer treatment, collaborating closely with our Radiation Oncology and Medical Oncology colleagues. Multidisciplinary clinics for prostate cancer, bladder cancer, kidney cancer, and other urologic cancers are offered to expedite care with specialists from Urologic Oncology, Radiation Oncology, and Medical Oncology, and facilitate access to clinical trials. During these visits, patients can have laboratory and imaging studies, and when appropriate, preoperative visits, coordinated as part of their visit to optimize efficiency and reduce the need for travel. Nurse navigators guide patients through complex aspects of cancer care, including coordination of care with outside providers. Our genitourinary tumor board meets every two weeks to review complex cancer cases, with expertise from urologic cancer specialists from radiology, pathology, medical oncology, radiation oncology, and urologic oncology. The multi-disciplinary approach ensures timely, high quality, state of the art care for our urologic cancer patients.
Survivorship
The goal of our urologic cancer program is to provide successful cancer treatment that allows patients to transition from active treatment to survivorship. In addition to cancer monitoring, our survivorship team identifies psychological distress in cancer survivors and manages symptoms and side effects associated with cancer treatments. In doing so, we provide comprehensive cancer care for our cancer survivors.
Surgical expertise
Each of our urologic oncologists bring with them specialty fellowship training, with 100% of their clinical practices dedicated to the evaluation and treatment of patients suffering from cancer of the prostate, bladder, kidney, testis, and other urologic cancers. Department of Urology surgeons are renowned for their expertise in treating complex cases that include high risk cancers, post-chemotherapy treatment, and salvage surgery following radiation therapy. We also utilize state of the art technologies for biopsy and ablative treatment of prostate and kidney cancers. In addition to expertise in traditional open surgery, they also utilize their advanced training in the use of minimally-invasive and robotic surgical techniques. Our robust volumes in open, minimally invasive, and robotic surgical cases assure the experience necessary for optimal postoperative outcomes.
Please visit the OHSU Knight Cancer Institute to learn more about the following urologic cancers:
Dr. Christopher Amling, M.D., F.A.C.S completed his urology residency training at Duke University Medical Center and his urologic oncology fellowship at the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota. An expert in the minimally-invasive surgical treatment of urologic cancers, he is a high-volume surgeon utilizing robotic surgical techniques for the treatment of prostate, bladder, kidney and testicular cancer, though his primary clinical interest lies in the treatment of prostate cancer.
Dr. Jen-Jane Liu, M.D. completed her medical training and urology residency at Stanford University, followed by fellowship training in urologic oncology at John Hopkins Hospital. Dr. Liu performs both open and minimally invasive surgery for the spectrum of urologic malignancies, including prostate, bladder, kidney, and testicular tumors. Her particular research interests lie in clinical outcomes and practice patterns of urologic oncology surgery and new imaging technologies for urologic cancers.
Dr. Sudhir Isharwal, M.D. provides care for patients with cancers of genital and urinary tract. His clinical and research focus include bladder cancer, kidney cancer, prostate cancer, and testis cancer. He performs advanced minimally invasive surgeries including robotic assisted laparoscopic surgeries as well as open surgeries. He performs nerve-sparing procedures for prostatectomy, cystectomy, and retroperitoneal lymph node dissection. For patients undergoing cystectomy, he performs all forms of urinary diversion/reconstruction. His research focuses on improving the clinical outcomes of patients with urological cancers.
Marshall Strother M.D. completed his urology residency training at University of Pennsylvania and his urologic oncology fellowship at Fox Chase Cancer Center in Philadelphia, PA. Now he specializes in caring for patients with cancers of the genitourinary system, including the kidney, prostate, adrenal gland, ureter, bladder, penis, testicles and urethra. He has advanced training in open and minimally invasive (laparoscopic, robotic and endoscopic) surgery.
Hilary Shreves, M.S.N., A.C.N.P.-B.C. started and leads the Urologic Cancer Survivorship program at OHSU. She is a urologic oncology nurse practitioner with years of experience treating cancer patients. She completed her graduate training at Georgetown University. On a daily basis, Hilary enjoys living out her mission to bring hope, encouragement, and the best of medical care to patients with urologic cancers.
Ashley Olson, MMsc, PA-C is a board-certified Physician Assistant who assists Dr. Christopher Amling in caring for patients with urologic cancers. She is a Minnesota native, and she received her undergraduate education at Augustana University in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. She subsequently assisted oncology patients in a hospital setting as a patient care technician and worked as a research associate in cancer biology prior to attending PA school. She received her medical education at Yale University School of Medicine
Lisa Langmesser, MHS, PA-C is a board-certified Physician Assistant who works with Dr. Jen-Jane Liu and Dr. Sudhir Isharwal in caring for patients with urologic cancers. She received her undergraduate degree in Athletic Training from Boise State University, and then went on to get a Master’s degree in Human Physiology from the University of Oregon. Lisa continued on to P.A. school at Duke University in Durham, NC. After graduating from P.A. school she worked in Urology at Duke, and most recently at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. Lisa is a native of Oregon, and is excited for the opportunity to come back to the Pacific Northwest.