James Huth, M.D.

Dallas Surgical Oncologist

When it comes to fighting cancer, surgical oncologist James Huth, M.D., knows that a comprehensive, interdisciplinary approach to treatment is the best way to go.

Dr. Huth specializes in evaluating and surgically treating breast cancer, melanoma (a type of skin cancer), and soft-tissue sarcomas (cancers that arise in the muscle, fat, blood vessels, and other supporting tissues). 

“UT Southwestern Medical Center offers truly integrated, multidisciplinary cancer care from the perspectives of both the patients and the clinicians,” Dr. Huth says. “For example, when breast cancer patients come in, they might see me, a medical or radiation oncologist, and a mammographer during the same visit to the same clinic.

“From the treatment perspective, our multidisciplinary, disease-specific clinical teams meet regularly to discuss patients and plan for and evaluate their care,” he adds. “The many specialists I work with do a great job of collaborating to make sure our patients receive the very best care.”

While the prospect of cancer surgery is unsettling for many people, Dr. Huth says that in many cases there’s a plus side to having surgery as a treatment option. 

“If surgery is appropriate for someone, that means we believe the person’s cancer is localized enough that we can safely and effectively remove some or all of it,” he explains. “It means that he or she is potentially curable.”

In addition, today’s surgical tools and techniques are more sophisticated than ever. 

“Nowadays, surgery is less invasive and much more precise, the anesthetics are much better, and a number of advanced nonsurgical therapies can be used very effectively in conjunction with surgery,” Dr. Huth says. “These are just some of the reasons that cancer patients who undergo surgery today are, in general, seeing quicker recoveries and better outcomes than they ever have.”

The son of a physician, Dr. Huth is fellowship trained and American Board of Surgery certified. He enjoys the process of getting to know his patients as much as he does caring for them.

“I saw the joy my dad got from his commitment to his patients and the long-term relationships he developed with them, and surgical oncology has given me the opportunity to have the same experience,” he says. “From preoperative consultations to follow-up appointments years after surgery, I like that I’m able to see my patients for a long time.”