Richard J. Bleicher, MD, FACS

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- Research Profile
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Clinical Locations
Primary Location
Fox Chase Cancer Center
333 Cottman Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19111
Professor, Department of Surgical Oncology
Attending Surgeon
Leader, Breast Cancer Program
Director, Breast Fellowship Program
Specialties
Treatment Focus
Novel Treatment Modalities for Breast Cancer, Breast Cancer Clinical Trials, Cosmetic Outcomes in the Treatment of Breast Cancer
Research Program
Key Awards
![]() |
Surgery |
Jamie Brooke Lieberman Remembrance Award, Susan G. Komen® Philadelphia, 2020
Appointments
- Member, Board of Directors, American College of Surgeons National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers
- Chairman, Quality Improvement and Informaton Technology Committee, American College of Surgeons National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers
- Surveyor, American College of Surgeons National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers
- Vice Chairman, Society of Surgical Oncology Breast Fellowship Program Directors Training Committee
- Committee Member, Commission on Cancer Operative Standards Committee
- Committee Member, Commission on Cancer, Quality Integration Committee
Treatment Philosophy
I am acutely aware of the impact that a breast cancer diagnosis has on an individual. I do my best to foster a positive environment in which to start my patients' course of treatment and take the time to explain the pros and cons of each treatment option, so that they can make an informed decision. My treatment philosophy also includes, not just an emphasis on successful treatment, but also preserving a good cosmetic outcome. I feel fortunate to be a fellowship trained, very highly specialized clinician practicing at Fox Chase Cancer Center, which is an NCI-Designated Comprehensive Cancer Center, because this combination of factors allows me, and our treatment team, to focus on one thing all day, every day, and do it well: curing breast cancer. I think there is nothing more rewarding that I could do as a clinician.
Follow on Twitter: @RichardBleicher
Educational Background
- Fellow, Basic Science Research, Mercy Hospital of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA
- Fellow, Surgical Oncology, John Wayne Cancer Institute, Santa Monica, CA
- Resident, Mercy Hospital of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA
- MD, Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, 1994
- BA, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 1990
Certifications
- Board Certified, General Surgery
Appointments
- Member, Board of Directors, American College of Surgeons National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers
- Chairman, Quality Improvement and Informaton Technology Committee, American College of Surgeons National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers
- Surveyor, American College of Surgeons National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers
- Vice Chairman, Society of Surgical Oncology Breast Fellowship Program Directors Training Committee
- Committee Member, Commission on Cancer Operative Standards Committee
- Committee Member, Commission on Cancer, Quality Integration Committee
Memberships
- National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN)
- Epic User Group Committee
- American College of Surgeons
- American College of Surgeons Oncology Group
- American Medical Informatics Association
- American Radium Society
- American Society of Clinical Oncology
- Association for Academic Surgery
- Oncology Group American
- Society of Breast Surgeons
- International Sentinel Node Society
- National Comprehensive Cancer Network
- Radiation Therapy Oncology Group
- Society of Surgical Oncology
- Society of University Surgeons
Honors & Awards
- Philadelphia Magazine Top Doctors, 2017-20
- Jamie Brooke Lieberman Remembrance Award, Susan G. Komen® Philadelphia, 2020
- America's Top Doctors®, 2016-17
- Best Doctors in America®, Best Doctors Inc., 2014
- Breast Cancer Researcher of the Year Award for 2009, Adams County Breast Cancer Coalition
- Sentinel Node 2002 Congress Young Investigator Award, 2002
- American Society of Clinical Oncology Merit Award, 2002
Research Program
Research Interests
Health services research, breast imaging, breast cancer, population studies; Sentinel node biopsy in breast cancer; Novel treatment modalities for breast cancer; Breast cancer clinical trials; Breast imaging and cancer outcomes, Disparities in breast cancer, Male and female 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
Bleicher RJ, Ruth K, Sigurdson ER, Beck RJ, Ross E, Wong YN, Patel SA, Boraas M, Chang EI, Topham NS, Egleston BL. Time to surgery and breast cancer survival in the United States. In Press, JAMA Oncol 2015
Bleicher RJ, Ruth K, Sigurdson ER, Daly JM, Boraas M, Anderson P, Egleston BL. Breast Conservation Versus Mastectomy for T3 Primaries (>5 cm): A Review of 5,685 Medicare Patients. In Press, Cancer 2015.
Bleicher RJ. Reply to E. Peralta, et al. re: Breast MRI as it is, in contrast to how we wish it to be. J Clin Oncol 2014; 32, 2818-2819.
Loveland-Jones C, Ruth K, Sigurdson ER, Egleston BL, Boraas M, Bleicher RJ. Breast conservation surgery in the Medicare patient: Will the American College of Surgeons Oncology Group Z0011 Trial change the pattern of care? Br Cancer Res Treat 2014; 143, 571-7. [DOI 10.1007/s10549-014-2834-9, PubMed]
Bleicher RJ, Ruth K, Sigurdson ER, Ross E, Wong YN, Patel SA, Boraas M, Topham NS, Egleston BL. Preoperative delays in the United States Medicare population having breast cancer. J Clin Oncol 2012; 30, 4485-92. [DOI 10.1200/JCO.2012.41.7972, PubMed]
Crivello M, Ruth K, Egleston BL, Sigurdson ER, Wong YN, Boraas M, Bleicher RJ. Advanced imaging modalities in early stage breast cancer– preoperative use in the United States Medicare Patient. Ann Surg Oncol 2013; 20: 102-10. [DOI 10.1245/s10434-012-2571-4, PubMed]
Patel RR, Li T, Ross EA, Sesa L, Sigurdson ER, Bleicher RJ. The effect of simultaneous peripheral excision in breast conservation upon margin status. Ann Surg Oncol 2010; 17, 2933-9. [DOI: 10.1245/s10434-010-1123-z, PubMed, NIHMS: 200283]
Bleicher RJ, Ciocca RM, Egleston BL, Sesa L, Evers K, Sigurdson ER, Morrow M. The association of routine pretreatment magnetic resonance imaging with time to surgery, mastectomy rate, and margin status. J Am Coll Surg 2009; 209: 180-187. Quiz 294-5. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jamcollsurg.2009.04.010, PubMed
Bleicher RJ, Kloth DD, Robinson D, Axelrod P. Inflammatory cutaneous adverse effects of methylene blue dye injection for lymphatic mapping/sentinel lymphadenectomy. J Surg Oncol 2009; 99:356-60. [DOI: 10.1002/jso.21240, PubMed]
Bleicher RJ, Topham NS, Morrow M. Beauty and the beast: Management of breast cancer after plastic surgery. Ann Surg 2008; 247:680-6. [DOI: 10.1097/SLA.0b013e318161b40f, PubMed]
Additional Publications

Clinical Locations
Primary Location
Fox Chase Cancer Center
333 Cottman Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19111
Professor, Department of Surgical Oncology
Attending Surgeon
Leader, Breast Cancer Program
Director, Breast Fellowship Program
Specialties
Treatment Focus
Novel Treatment Modalities for Breast Cancer, Breast Cancer Clinical Trials, Cosmetic Outcomes in the Treatment of Breast Cancer
Research Program
Key Awards
![]() |
Surgery |
Jamie Brooke Lieberman Remembrance Award, Susan G. Komen® Philadelphia, 2020
Appointments
- Member, Board of Directors, American College of Surgeons National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers
- Chairman, Quality Improvement and Informaton Technology Committee, American College of Surgeons National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers
- Surveyor, American College of Surgeons National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers
- Vice Chairman, Society of Surgical Oncology Breast Fellowship Program Directors Training Committee
- Committee Member, Commission on Cancer Operative Standards Committee
- Committee Member, Commission on Cancer, Quality Integration Committee
Treatment Philosophy
I am acutely aware of the impact that a breast cancer diagnosis has on an individual. I do my best to foster a positive environment in which to start my patients' course of treatment and take the time to explain the pros and cons of each treatment option, so that they can make an informed decision. My treatment philosophy also includes, not just an emphasis on successful treatment, but also preserving a good cosmetic outcome. I feel fortunate to be a fellowship trained, very highly specialized clinician practicing at Fox Chase Cancer Center, which is an NCI-Designated Comprehensive Cancer Center, because this combination of factors allows me, and our treatment team, to focus on one thing all day, every day, and do it well: curing breast cancer. I think there is nothing more rewarding that I could do as a clinician.
Follow on Twitter: @RichardBleicher
Education
Educational Background
- Fellow, Basic Science Research, Mercy Hospital of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA
- Fellow, Surgical Oncology, John Wayne Cancer Institute, Santa Monica, CA
- Resident, Mercy Hospital of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA
- MD, Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, 1994
- BA, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 1990
Certifications
- Board Certified, General Surgery
Appointments
- Member, Board of Directors, American College of Surgeons National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers
- Chairman, Quality Improvement and Informaton Technology Committee, American College of Surgeons National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers
- Surveyor, American College of Surgeons National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers
- Vice Chairman, Society of Surgical Oncology Breast Fellowship Program Directors Training Committee
- Committee Member, Commission on Cancer Operative Standards Committee
- Committee Member, Commission on Cancer, Quality Integration Committee
Memberships
- National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN)
- Epic User Group Committee
- American College of Surgeons
- American College of Surgeons Oncology Group
- American Medical Informatics Association
- American Radium Society
- American Society of Clinical Oncology
- Association for Academic Surgery
- Oncology Group American
- Society of Breast Surgeons
- International Sentinel Node Society
- National Comprehensive Cancer Network
- Radiation Therapy Oncology Group
- Society of Surgical Oncology
- Society of University Surgeons
Honors & Awards
- Philadelphia Magazine Top Doctors, 2017-20
- Jamie Brooke Lieberman Remembrance Award, Susan G. Komen® Philadelphia, 2020
- America's Top Doctors®, 2016-17
- Best Doctors in America®, Best Doctors Inc., 2014
- Breast Cancer Researcher of the Year Award for 2009, Adams County Breast Cancer Coalition
- Sentinel Node 2002 Congress Young Investigator Award, 2002
- American Society of Clinical Oncology Merit Award, 2002
Research Profile
Research Interests
Health services research, breast imaging, breast cancer, population studies; Sentinel node biopsy in breast cancer; Novel treatment modalities for breast cancer; Breast cancer clinical trials; Breast imaging and cancer outcomes, Disparities in breast cancer, Male and female breast cancer.
Publications
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
Bleicher RJ, Ruth K, Sigurdson ER, Beck RJ, Ross E, Wong YN, Patel SA, Boraas M, Chang EI, Topham NS, Egleston BL. Time to surgery and breast cancer survival in the United States. In Press, JAMA Oncol 2015
Bleicher RJ, Ruth K, Sigurdson ER, Daly JM, Boraas M, Anderson P, Egleston BL. Breast Conservation Versus Mastectomy for T3 Primaries (>5 cm): A Review of 5,685 Medicare Patients. In Press, Cancer 2015.
Bleicher RJ. Reply to E. Peralta, et al. re: Breast MRI as it is, in contrast to how we wish it to be. J Clin Oncol 2014; 32, 2818-2819.
Loveland-Jones C, Ruth K, Sigurdson ER, Egleston BL, Boraas M, Bleicher RJ. Breast conservation surgery in the Medicare patient: Will the American College of Surgeons Oncology Group Z0011 Trial change the pattern of care? Br Cancer Res Treat 2014; 143, 571-7. [DOI 10.1007/s10549-014-2834-9, PubMed]
Bleicher RJ, Ruth K, Sigurdson ER, Ross E, Wong YN, Patel SA, Boraas M, Topham NS, Egleston BL. Preoperative delays in the United States Medicare population having breast cancer. J Clin Oncol 2012; 30, 4485-92. [DOI 10.1200/JCO.2012.41.7972, PubMed]
Crivello M, Ruth K, Egleston BL, Sigurdson ER, Wong YN, Boraas M, Bleicher RJ. Advanced imaging modalities in early stage breast cancer– preoperative use in the United States Medicare Patient. Ann Surg Oncol 2013; 20: 102-10. [DOI 10.1245/s10434-012-2571-4, PubMed]
Patel RR, Li T, Ross EA, Sesa L, Sigurdson ER, Bleicher RJ. The effect of simultaneous peripheral excision in breast conservation upon margin status. Ann Surg Oncol 2010; 17, 2933-9. [DOI: 10.1245/s10434-010-1123-z, PubMed, NIHMS: 200283]
Bleicher RJ, Ciocca RM, Egleston BL, Sesa L, Evers K, Sigurdson ER, Morrow M. The association of routine pretreatment magnetic resonance imaging with time to surgery, mastectomy rate, and margin status. J Am Coll Surg 2009; 209: 180-187. Quiz 294-5. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jamcollsurg.2009.04.010, PubMed
Bleicher RJ, Kloth DD, Robinson D, Axelrod P. Inflammatory cutaneous adverse effects of methylene blue dye injection for lymphatic mapping/sentinel lymphadenectomy. J Surg Oncol 2009; 99:356-60. [DOI: 10.1002/jso.21240, PubMed]
Bleicher RJ, Topham NS, Morrow M. Beauty and the beast: Management of breast cancer after plastic surgery. Ann Surg 2008; 247:680-6. [DOI: 10.1097/SLA.0b013e318161b40f, PubMed]
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