Carolyn Nessim

Surgical Oncologist | Surgical Oncology

501 Smyth Road Critical Care Wing 1 Ottawa Ontario, K1H 8L6 Show map

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About

A well-versed Surgical Oncologist, Carolyn Nessim, MD, MSc, FRCSC, works at The Ottawa Hospital, a public university teaching hospital offering primary, secondary, and tertiary care to 1.2 million adults and newborns in Ottawa and across Eastern Ontario. Her main clinical focus is in the treatment of Melanoma, Gastric Cancer, and Soft Tissue Sarcoma. She also serves on staff at the University of Ottawa, as an Assistant Professor of Surgery, teaching medical students and residents. She is a Clinician Investigator at The Ottawa Health Research Institute and has publications in peer-reviewed journals. Her main research focus is identifying predictive markers in cancer care as well as quality and access to cancer care for patients. Dr. Nessim conducted her specialized fellowship training in surgical oncology at the University of Toronto and the Peter MacCallum Cancer Center in Melbourne, Australia. She is certified in General Surgery by the American Board of Surgery and the Royal College of Surgeons of Canada and has the honor of being an active member of multiple medical societies including the Society of Surgical Oncology and the American Society of Clinical Oncology.

Carolyn Nessim's Videos

Education and Training

Bachelors of Science

McGill University; Medical Degree ï¿½ The University of Montreal; Masters of Science ï¿½ University of Montreal

Board Certification

American Board of Surgery

General Surgery; Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada

General Surgery and Surgical Oncology

Provider Details

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Carolyn Nessim

Carolyn Nessim's Expert Contributions

My Answers

Will removal of a cancerous tumor cause cancer cells to spread?
The risk of tumour spread at the time of surgery is very low. The benefit of removing the cancer far outweighs the risk of cancerous cells spreading. Without removal of the tumour there is no potential chance for survival READ MORE
My husband has a cancerous tumor. Would all the cancer be gone once it's removed?
I do not know the case specifically. If the surgeons can remove the whole thing, then usually they can. Once you remove a cancer, however, even if you remove all of it, it does not mean that it is not in the person's system. There is always a risk that it will come back either in the same location or somewhere else in the body (lymph nodes, liver, lung, etc.) in the next 5-10 years. But if the tumor is localized right now, most often, it can be fully removed. READ MORE
How to get rid of fluid in the lungs?
Yes they can drain the fluid in radiology with a drain but only necessary if she is symptomatic (short of breath). Not that dangerous. Minimal risk. Always a risk of lung collapse but rare and if it does occur relatively easy to fix. READ MORE
What Breast Cancer treatment is recommended?
You should get chemotherapy and hormone therapy. But every case is different and specific. But in general, you should get chemotherapy followed by radiation to the rest of your breast and hormone therapy with an anti-estrogen for the next 5-10 years. READ MORE
Surgical oncologist for a third opinion?
Depending on the stage of her cancer a general surgeon, breast surgeon or surgical oncologist can all do very good surgeries. She must be referred to a surgeon at some point as part of her care. I hope that helps READ MORE

Areas of expertise and specialization

Gastric CancerMelanomaSoft tissue Sarcoma/GIST

Faculty Titles & Positions

Locally and at the University of Ottawa -

Awards

2016-2017 Joan Seely Trust â€œPilot Assessment of a Novel Gene Expression Profiling Platform to predict Metastatic Spread for Sentinel-Lymph Node Negative Cutaneous Melanoma ($15 000)
2016-2017 Joan Seely Trust â€œOttawa Tumour Tissue Resource Core Facilityâ€ (40 000$)
2015-2016 TOHAMO Grant for Course in Physician Leadership (1500$)
2015 Crawford, Nessim C, Weaver J, van Walraven C. Association of wait times to surgical, medical and radiation therapies with overall survival in Ontarians with melanoma â€“ Best Research Paper General Surgery Research Day â€“ University of Ottawa
2013-2015 Joan Seely Trust (85 000$)
2013 Detweiler Traveling Fellowship Award/Grant (10 500$) from the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada
2009-2011 Lily Foundation grant for MSc Thesis Project (30 000$)
2009-2010 Bursary for MSc from Centre de Recherche du Centre Hospitalier de Lâ€™UniversitÃ© de MontrÃ©al (40 000$)

Fellowships

Surgical Oncology, University of Toronto; Surgical Oncology, Peter MacCallum Cancer Center, Melbourne, Australia

Professional Society Memberships

Society of Surgical Oncology, American Society of Clinical Oncology, Canadian Society of Surgical Oncology, American Society of Breast Surgeons, International Society of Surgery and Breast Surgery, Canadian Association of General Surgeons, American College of Surgeons, Canadian Medical Association, Federation of Medical Women of Canada

What do you attribute your success to?

She has had some immense teachers with fantastic training and amazing mentors. She has a passion for her surgical field and for her patients. Dr. Nessim is kind, very empathetic and personable.

Philanthropic Initiatives

2015-Current Sandy Hill Community Centre Outreach ClinicVolunteer as Surgeon in the Clinic for underprivileged and high riskpopulation in Ottawa2000-2002 International Social Action Committee ?? University of Montreal? President, 2000-2001? Manager of The Intermed (Student Cafeteria) ongoing method of fundraising forthe Committee, 2001-2002? Promoted awareness of health issues in developing countries? Organized social events for newly arrived immigrants to Canada? Volunteered in a school for the blind in Calcutta, India with Mother TheresaMissionaries? Volunteered in Fewa City Hospital and Green Pastures Leprosy Hospital inPokhara, Nepal working with physicians and surgeons, evaluating patients andassisting in the OR