Due to a system-wide technology update, we are experiencing extremely high call volume. We appreciate your patience with our operators during this time. Thank you for choosing Fox Chase Cancer Center.
Elin Sigurdson, MD, PhD, FACS, FRCS (C)
Clinical Locations
- Fox Chase Cancer Center
Primary Location
Professor, Department of Surgical Oncology
Master Clinician
Director, Surgical Research
Specialties
Research Program
Key Awards
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| Surgery |
Treatment Philosophy
I joined the surgical oncology department at Fox Chase Cancer Center in 1992 as director of surgical research.
My specialty is surgical treatment of patients with colorectal and breast cancer. At Fox Chase, we have been improving techniques by performing laparoscopy to remove colorectal cancer, which allows patients an earlier return home and less pain. Our colorectal cancer patients are managed by a multidisciplinary team of physicians. Our advanced surgical techniques minimize the need for permanent colostomies for patients with rectal cancer and offer nerve preservation. This results in improved quality of life after surgery for those with rectal cancer.
Fox Chase is dedicated to providing multispecialty management of patients with colorectal and breast cancer. I enjoy being part of this team because what we do in surgery benefits our patients for the rest of their lives.
I am an active member of the editorial board of the Journal of Clinical Oncology. At Fox Chase, I also serve as the co-director of the fellowship program, which provides expert training to new surgical oncologists.
Follow on Twitter: @FCCCSurgOnc
Educational Background
- Fellow, Surgical Oncology, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY
- Resident, General Surgery, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- MD, University of Toronto School of Medicine, Ontario, Canada, 1980
- PhD, Chemistry, University of London, England, 1976
Certifications
- American Board of Surgery
- Royal College of Surgeons (Canada)
Memberships
- National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN)
- Hepatobiliary Cancers Panel
- American Association for Cancer Research
- American College of Surgeons
- American Surgical Association
- Association for Academic Surgery
- Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group
- Radiation Therapy Oncology Group
- Society of Surgical Oncology, Executive Council
Honors & Awards
- Philadelphia Magazine Top Doctors, 2009-20
- Main Line Today Top Doctors, 2018-2019
- Best Doctors in America® , 2013-14, 2019-2020, Surgical Oncology
- America’s Top Doctors®, 2017
'Cowboy' Jack Novek
- Lymphoma
- Prostate Cancer
- Skin Cancer
I am 78 years old and have owned horses for 68 of those years. I am a cowboy through and through. My father gave me my first pony when I was just five years old and my first horse when I was 10. I have had hundreds of horses since.
Tiffany Mannino Dillon
- Breast Cancer
I remember the day I was diagnosed so clearly. December 16, 2009.
Debbie Lech
- Colorectal Cancer
I was 51 when I was diagnosed with colon cancer in 2012. My husband, Claus, and I had been married two years as of 2012, and were enjoying our life together with my two daughters and his two daughters and son.
Jeff Lambert
- Melanoma
I was 34 years old when I was diagnosed with melanoma. Today I am cancer free and enjoying life with my wife, Kathleen, and our daughter, Zoey.
Research Interests
- Gastrointestinal cancers
- Breast cancer
Selected Publications
Esposito AC, Crawford J, Sigurdson ER, Handorf EA, Hayes SB, Boraas M, Bleicher RJ. Omission of radiotherapy after breast conservation surgery in the postneoadjuvant setting. Journal of Surgical Research, 221:49-57, 2018. PMC5729922
Nardello SM, Kulkarni N, Aggon A, Boraas M, Sigurdson ER, Bleicher RJ. Invasive Mucinous Carcinoma Arising in Ectopic Axillary Breast Tissue. A Case Report and Review of the Literature, Am J Case Rep 2015: 16:153-159 DOI 10.12659/AJCR.892650
Silverman D, Ruth K, Sigurdson ER, Egleston BL, Goldstein LJ, Wong YN, Boraas M, Bleicher RJ. Skin Involvement and Breast Cancer: Are T4b Lesions of All Sizes Created Equal? J Am Coll Surg. 2014 Apr 20, pil:S1072-515(14)00340-8. doi: 10.1016/j_jamcollsurg.2014.04.003 PMID:25026875
Loveland-Jones CE, Ruth K, Sigurdson ER, Egleston BL, Boraas M, Bleicher RJ. Patterns of nodal staging during breast conservation surgery in the Medicare patient: Will the ACOSOG Z0011 trial change the pattern of care? Breast Cancer Research and Treatment, 2014 Feb;143(3):571-7 PMID:24442687
Thomay AA, Nagorney DM, Cohen SJ, Sigurdson ER, Truty MJ, Burtness B, Hall MJ, Chun YS. Modern Chemotherapy Mitigates Adverse Prognostic Effect of Regional Nodal Metastases in Stage IV Colorectal Cancer. 2014 Jan;18(1):69-74Journal of Gastrointestinal Surgery PMID:24002765
Nitkorski J, Willis A, Farma J, Zhu F, Nick D, Sigurdson E, Association of Race and Socioeconomic Status and Outcomes with Patients with Rectal Cancer, Ann Surg Oncol. -2013 Apr;20(4):1142-7, PMID:23334252
Landry JC, Feng Y, Cohen SJ, Staley CA 3rd, Whittington R, Sigurdson ER, Nimeriri, H, Verma U, Prabhu RS, Benson AB. Phase II Study of Preoperative Radiation with Concurrent Capecitabine, Oxaliplatin, and Bevacizumab Followed by Surgery and Postoperative 5-Fluorouracil, Leucovorin, Oxaliplatin (FOLFOX), and Bevacizumab in Patients with Locally Advanced Rectal Cancer; ECOG 3204. Cancer, 2013 Apr 15;119(8):1521-7 PMID:23288663
Bleicher, Richard J, Ruth, Karen J, Sigurdson, Elin R, Beck, J. Robert, Ross, Eric, Wong, Yu-Ning, Patel, Sameer A, Boraas, Marcia, Chang, Eric, Topham, Neal S. Egleston, Brian. Time to Surgery and Breast Cancer Survival in the United States: JAMA Oncology. In pres
Benson III A B, Chakravarthy A Bapsi, Hamilton S, Sigurdson ER; Cancers of the Colon and Rectum; A Multidisciplinary Approach to Diagnosis and Management, Chapter 9: Pages 161-163 (demosMedical 2013)
Sigurdson, Elin; Young Oncologist Essay Awards (Moderator), American Radium Society 95th Annual Meeting, Scottsdale, AZ, April 29, 2013
Bleicher RJ, Sigurdson ER. Breast Cancer. Conclusions. Curr Probl Cancer. 2012 Sep-Oct;36(5):325. doi: 10.1016/j.currproblcancer.2012.06.007. Epub 2012 Aug 9. No abstract available. PMID:22884727
Fox Chase gives excellent and well informed care.
Good experience
Dr. Sigurdson is a phenomenal doctor. She is skilled and caring. She has been my breast doctor for many years and she is the surgeon who saved my husband [...] life when he had colon cancer 5 years ago.
I have been going to Dr. Sidgoursin for4 years and it seems as though she knows me like I see her every day! Great doctor and surgeon!
Good experience
excelent care from doctor and staff
I feel that I received excellent treatment and care from Dr. Sigurdson and the other staff at Fox Chase.
Dr. Sigurdson is a high-level professional and I am so glad to be her patient. I would highly recommend Dr. Sigurdson to anyone.
Very bad experience from beginning to end.
I have been going to Dr. Sigurdson for years. She is excellent.
I've been a patient of Dr Sigurdson 16 years and I wouldnt trade her for the world. she is the BEST IN MY BOOK.
All staff of Fox Chase Cancer Center has good skills. all of them are respectful and courteous. And definitely Dr. Elin Sigurdson is a best surgeon of Fox Chase!
thank you for the dedication to your patients
would like to give a huge thank you to Fox Chase and my Dr for working me in early. We come from [...] and sometimes we get there plenty early, trying to allow travel time.
Excellent medical service.
Dr Sigurdson and her team is exceptional. They are professional and efficient, while providing caring and unrushed service. I'm extremely thankful that I chose this team for my care.