Gastroenterologist Hans Gerdes (center) care for cancer patients who have gastrointestinal problems.
The Division of Subspecialty Medicine in the Department of Medicine provides primary and consultative medical care to patients undergoing cancer treatment at Memorial Sloan Kettering. Preexisting medical conditions such as diabetes, renal problems, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, heart disease, gastrointestinal illnesses, and persistent or latent infections do not take a vacation when cancer is diagnosed and treated. Instead, these conditions often require special vigilance and attention to maintain the patient’s health and optimize the chances for cancer cure.
Our Services have physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and nurses whose clinical, research, and teaching activities focus on preventing the complications of cancer treatment. The activities in these services range from monitoring cardiac and renal function prior to and during chemotherapy to teaming up with oncologists to preempt infectious complications and leading clinical trials of new drugs to treat cancers of endocrine organs such as the thyroid gland.
