Mahmoud B. El-Tamer, MD
Breast Surgeon
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About Me
- Attending Surgeon
I am a surgeon who has been caring for people with breast cancer for more than 30 years. I have expertise performing oncoplastic procedures (surgeries in which I remove the cancerous tissue and reconstruct the breast). My goal is to offer patients the most-effective procedures while maintaining and even enhancing their physical appearance. I care for more than 350 people with breast cancer each year.
When people with cancer first come to see me, they often have many concerns about their options, recovery, and the final result of their procedure: Will I survive? What shall I do? How will I look? Will I be able to get back to my normal daily life? I explain each surgery in detail and help guide them in choosing the option that is best for them. At the end of each appointment, my goal is that the people I care for feel reassured that they will receive the best care possible.
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I study different aspects of breast cancer and ways to improve the quality of surgical care. I am currently working with several other cancer centers around the country on a clinical trial (the IDEA Trial). This study is exploring the possibility of no longer using radiation therapy for people with breast cancer that is at low risk of spreading to other parts of the body and who have had breast preservation surgery (lumpectomy). If we can treat them without the possible side effects of radiation, they can have a better quality of life after breast cancer surgery.
I am also looking at using smaller, less-invasive procedures for people whose breast cancer responds very well to chemotherapy.
I have been the principal or co-principal investigator on studies funded by the Avon Foundation for Women, the US Department of Veterans Affairs, and the American College of Surgeons.
I have written or co-authored more than 120 book chapters, manuscripts, and editorials on breast cancer. I have also published two textbooks to help other breast surgeons improve the cosmetic outcome of breast cancer surgeries. I organize, run, and contribute to national and international workshops to teach surgeons how to achieve the best cosmetic results following breast cancer surgery. In addition, I serve on the editorial boards of several leading medical journals.
I am also an active member of many leading professional societies, including the American College of Surgeons, the Society of Surgical Oncology, the American Society of Breast Surgeons, and the American Society of Clinical Oncology.
A breast surgeon is a doctor with special training in surgery on breasts.
My Specialties
- Oncoplastic Breast Surgery
Education
- MD, American University of Beirut
Residencies
- General Surgery - American University of Beirut Medical Center
- Surgery - SUNY Health Sciences Center at Brooklyn
Awards and Honors
- Top Doctors New York Metro Area, Castle Connolly (2023)
- Castle Connolly: America's Top Doctors (2023)
Fellowships
- Surgical Oncology and Reconstruction - Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
Board Certifications
- Surgery
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Contact and Location
Dr. El-Tamer sees patients at one location.
Looking to see a doctor at a different location? See all MSK locations.
Colleagues
Doctors at Memorial Sloan Kettering work as teams, with specialists from all different areas. I work closely with nurse practitioner Liza L. Lagdamen. We combine our expertise to provide comprehensive care to our patients at every step of their cancer journey.
Clinical Trials
- Clinical Trials Co-Investigated by Dr. El-Tamer
- A Phase II Study of Breast-Conserving Surgery without Radiotherapy for Women with Breast Cancer: the PRECISION Trial
- A Phase III Study Comparing the Usual Treatment of Radiation Therapy and Hormonal Therapy versus Hormonal Therapy Alone for the Treatment of Low-Risk, Early-Stage Breast Cancer
Memorial Sloan Kettering's doctors and scientists are constantly developing new treatments for cancer. MSK is typically running hundreds of clinical trials at a given time.
You may be able to participate in a clinical trial even if you are new to MSK. Search our online directory to find trial information and see more about who can participate.
Search clinical trialsResearch and Publications
Books
Principles and Techniques in Oncoplastic Breast Cancer Surgery. El-Tamer M, ed. Singapore: World Scientific Press; 2013.
Oncoplastic and Reconstructive Breast Surgery. CICERO URBAN, MARIO RIETJENS MAHMOUD EL-TAMER
VIRGILIO SACCHINI editors Springer International Publishing AG, part of Springer Nature; 2019
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Book Chapters
- El-Tamer, M. Resection of the tumor. In: Principles and Techniques in Oncoplastic Breast Cancer Surgery. El-Tamer M, ed. Singapore: World Scientific Press, 2013
- Weber W, El-Tamer, M. Skin-sparing mastectomy. In: Principles and Techniques in Oncoplastic Breast Cancer Surgery. El-Tamer M, ed. Singapore: World Scientific Press, 2013
- El-Tamer, M. Mastopexy. In: Principles and Techniques in Oncoplastic Breast Cancer Surgery. El-Tamer M, ed. Singapore: World Scientific Press, 2013
- Huston TL, Rohde CH, El-Tamer M, Ascherman J. Oncoplastic breast reduction. In: Principles and Techniques in Oncoplastic Breast Cancer Surgery. El-Tamer M, ed. Singapore: World Scientific Press, 2013
- El-Tamer M. Repair of breast defects. In: Principles and Techniques in Oncoplastic Breast Cancer Surgery. El-Tamer M, ed. Singapore: World Scientific Press, 2013
- El-Tamer, M. Resection of the tumor. In: Principles and Techniques in Oncoplastic Breast Cancer Surgery. El-Tamer M, ed. Singapore: World Scientific Press, 2013
- El-Tamer M. Skin incisions. In: Principles and Techniques in Oncoplastic Breast Cancer Surgery. El-Tamer M, ed. Singapore: World Scientific Press, 2013
- Kirstein L, Boolbol SK, El-Tamer M. Neoadjuvant therapy. In: Principles and Techniques in Oncoplastic Breast Cancer Surgery. El-Tamer M, ed. Singapore: World Scientific Press, 2013
- El-Tamer M, Mitchell S. Surgical anatomy of the breast. In: Principles and Techniques in Oncoplastic Breast Cancer Surgery. El-Tamer M, ed. Singapore: World Scientific Press, 2013
- Ponamgi S, El-Tamer M. Surgical landmarks and measurements. In: Principles and Techniques in Oncoplastic Breast Cancer Surgery. El-Tamer M, ed. Singapore: World Scientific Press, 2013
- El-Tamer M, ed. Principles and Techniques in Oncoplastic Breast Cancer Surgery. Singapore: World Scientific Press, 2013
- Oncologic Safety of Oncoplastic Surgery. Urban C, Rietjens M, El-Tamer M, Sacchini V, eds. New York: Springer. 2019
- El-Tamer M, Urban C, Rietjens M, Kuroda F, Hurley J. Oncoplastic and Reconstructive Anatomy of the Breast. In: Urban C, Rietjens M, El-Tamer M, Sacchini V, eds. Oncologic Safety of Oncoplastic Surgery. New York: Springer. 2019
- Walsh, SM, El-Tamer M. Glandular Displacement Techniques. In: Urban C, Rietjens M, El-Tamer M, Sacchini V, eds. Oncologic Safety of Oncoplastic Surgery. New York: Springer. 2019
- El-Tamer M. Dome Mastopexy. In: Urban C, Rietjens M, El-Tamer M, Sacchini V, eds. Oncologic Safety of Oncoplastic Surgery. New York: Springer. 2019
- Moo TA, Ho A, El-Tamer M. Postmastectomy Radiation. In: Urban C, Rietjens M, El-Tamer M, Sacchini V, eds. Oncologic Safety of Oncoplastic Surgery. New York: Springer. 2019
- Walsh, SM, El-Tamer M. Oncologic Safety of Oncoplastic Surgery. In: Urban C, Rietjens M, El-Tamer M, Sacchini V, eds. Oncologic Safety of Oncoplastic Surgery. New York: Springer. 2019
Visit PubMed for a full listing of Dr. El-Tamer’s journal articles. Pubmed is an online index of research papers and other articles from the US National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health.
See all on PubMedPatient Reviews
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Disclosures
Doctors and faculty members often work with pharmaceutical, device, biotechnology, and life sciences companies, and other organizations outside of MSK, to find safe and effective cancer treatments, to improve patient care, and to educate the health care community.
MSK requires doctors and faculty members to report (“disclose”) the relationships and financial interests they have with external entities. As a commitment to transparency with our community, we make that information available to the public.
Mahmoud B. El-Tamer discloses the following relationships and financial interests:
No disclosures meeting criteria for time period
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This page and data include information for a specific MSK annual disclosure period (January 1, 2022 through disclosure submission in spring 2023). This data reflects interests that may or may not still exist. This data is updated annually.
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