James C Watson, MD, FACS

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Fox Chase Cancer Center
333 Cottman Ave
Philadelphia, PA 19111

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Video: James C. Watson, MD, FACS

James C. Watson, MD, FACS

Support the work of the Department of Surgical Oncology at Fox Chase Cancer Center

Dr. Watson's
Patient Stories

Toni Applegate - Leiomyosarcoma Patient Stories
William Beason - General Sarcoma Patient Stories
Maria Bento - Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor (GIST) Patient Stories, General Sarcoma Patient Stories
Elva Blendt - Pancreatic Cancer Patient Stories
Bruna Cassatta - Gallbladder Cancer Patient Stories
Anthony P. Celona - Pancreatic Cancer Patient Stories
Warren Chambers - Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor (GIST) Patient Stories
Lou Ciaverelli - Pancreatic Cancer Patient Stories
Bill Demesquita - Pancreatic Cancer Patient Stories
Stephen 'Alan' Dewees - General Sarcoma Patient Stories
Robert Disciullio - Pancreatic Cancer Patient Stories
David Dougherty - Liver Cancer (Bile Duct Cancer) Patient Stories
Florence Dudley - Cervical Cancer Patient Stories
Margaret Evans - Neuroendocrine Cancer of the Spleen Patient Stories
Louis Fantacone - Stomach (Gastric) Cancer Patient Stories
Angela Fedele - Kidney Cancer Patient Stories, Breast Cancer with Metastasis Patient Stories, Pancreatic Cancer Patient Stories, Prophylactic Mastectomy Patient Stories
Erma Fitzgerald - Small Bowel Cancer Patient Stories
Alan Hallman - Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor (GIST) Patient Stories
John "Jack" Hargraves - Stomach (Gastric) Cancer Patient Stories
Frances Hatalovsky - Carcinoid Cancer Patient Stories, Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor (GIST) Patient Stories
Connie Jackley - Breast Cancer Patient Stories, Colon Cancer Patient Stories, Gynecologic Malignancies Patient Stories, Pancreatic Cancer Patient Stories
Lawrence James - Germ Cell Tumor Treatment Patient Stories
William L. Jefferson - Sister Mary Joseph's Lymph Node Patient Stories, Small Bowel Cancer Patient Stories
William Killian - Colon Cancer Patient Stories, Liver Cancer (Bile Duct Cancer) Patient Stories, Metastatic Lung Cancer Patient Stories
Karen Kleger - Anal Canal Carcinoma, Squamous Cell Cancer Patient Stories
Jean Kupiec - Liver Cancer (Bile Duct Cancer) Patient Stories
Chris Lyons - Lymphoma Patient Stories
Anna Marchese - Ampullary Cancer Patient Stories
Frank McAndrew - Colon Cancer Patient Stories
Stephen McNamara - Prostate Cancer Patient Stories, Pancreatic Cancer Patient Stories
Robert Mirkin - Stomach (Gastric) Cancer Patient Stories
Grace Mullen - Leiomyosarcoma Patient Stories
Anthony P. Reres - Pancreatic Cancer Patient Stories
John Satterwhite - Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor (GIST) Patient Stories
Ronald Schnell - Pancreatic Cancer Patient Stories
Philip Shupe - Pancreatic Cancer Patient Stories
James Slade - Prostate Cancer Patient Stories, Colon Cancer Patient Stories, Radiation Treatment for Prostate Cancer Patient Stories
John St. Omer - Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor (GIST) Patient Stories
Terry Thomas - Mesothelioma Patient Stories
Cheryl Veney - Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor (GIST) Patient Stories
Ed Walsh - General Sarcoma Patient Stories
Janet Williams - Pancreatic Cancer Patient Stories
Charles Wormington - Stomach (Gastric) Cancer Patient Stories
Roger Yates - Pancreatic Cancer Patient Stories
Paul Zych - Colon Cancer Patient Stories

83 Temple Physicians Named Best Doctors in America®
(Feb 11, 2013)

Surgical Oncology

Attending Surgeon

Meet other members of the
gastrointestinal cancer treatment team.
Meet other members of the
sarcoma treatment team.

Clinical Expertise:

Stomach Cancer; Pancreatic Cancer; Liver Cancer; Colorectal Cancer; Gallbladder, Bile Duct, Small Bowel Cancers; Soft-Tissue Sarcomas (Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors, Retroperitoneal Sarcomas, Desmoid Tumors, Extremity Sarcomas)

Certifications:

American Board of Surgery;
Fellow of the American College of Surgeons

I joined the department of surgical oncology at Fox Chase Cancer Center in 1997 as a specialist in gastrointestinal cancers and sarcomas. Since that time, I pride myself on providing comprehensive patient education. I believe that it is vital for my patients and me to come to an understanding about treatment options.

I am an advocate for patients and their families to make informed decisions regarding treatment. This typically reduces their anxiety and helps their comfort level. It is gratifying to hear from my patients that I communicate in a manner that puts them at ease and builds confidence in their decisions.

Due to the complexity of GI cancers and sarcomas, my patients have many, many questions and I feel it is important that I make plenty of time to answer their questions and address their concerns.

The patients I typically treat have complicated issues surrounding their disease, treatment and quality of life. I believe each case needs thoughtful care and that it is important to turn these complex problems into a logical format and strategy. Because each patient presents with a different set of circumstances, I like to provide the entire treatment plan up front, rather than taking it "a step at a time." My honest approach allows patients to feel more comfortable with their course of treatment. I think patients are more satisfied when they know what to expect.

My experience with complex cases has resulted in many referrals from tertiary hospital physicians. These cases require a special expertise and not typically performed in community hospitals. In regular conversations with the referring surgeons, I explain my approach so that we share the same goal for the best outcome.

A diagnosis of gastrointestinal cancer or sarcoma requires the surgeon to coordinate multidisciplinary care. As the point person, I evaluate whether the patient is ready for surgery at the time of diagnosis. Often, we suggest further treatment from radiation or medical oncology that might benefit our patient prior to surgery.

At Fox Chase, we have one of the busiest oncology operating rooms in the country - performing more GI surgeries than most hospitals in the region. With experience, come better outcomes. Our patients, in turn, feel more confident going into surgery.

We have had the opportunity to integrate modern, minimally-invasive surgical techniques where appropriate. By performing laparoscopic cancer surgery (a minimally-invasive procedure) whenever possible, we maximize recovery time, maximize outcomes and help patients return to normal activity more quickly. In my area of special expertise, gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST), our team will integrate therapy to treat patients nonsurgically if possible.

Medical Education

University of Texas Southwestern Medical School, Dallas, Texas, 1991

Residencies

General Surgery, Louisiana State University Medical Center, New Orleans, La.

Fellowships

Surgical Oncology, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Phila., Pa.

Honors and Awards

Best Doctors in America^® 2013

Professional Societies

American College of Surgeons;
The Society of Surgical Oncology;
American Society of Clinical Oncology

Research Interests

Angiogenesis inhibitors in the treatment of cancer; neoadjuvant (preoperative) treatment of locally or regionally-advanced upper gastrointestinal malignancies; gastrointestinal stromal tumor and resistance to imatinib (gleevec); and application of minimally invasive surgical techniques to upper gastrointestinal cancer operations.