Locations
Office
Spartanburg, SC
Phone
Practice website
About
Bio
Richard K. Orr MD, MPH, FACS is a surgical oncologist who specializes in breast diseases, endocrine diseases, colorectal cancer, melanoma and skin cancer.
He has wide experience in the surgical treatment of cancer - fellowship trained at the Medical College of Virginia in 1984 after completing his general surgery residency at the University of South Florida in 1982. Dr. Orr practices at the Gibbs Cancer Center with surgical oncologists Barry Hird, MD and Christophe Nguyen MD. He is well versed in minimal access (laparoscopic) and traditional open surgery.
Dr. Orr is a clinical professor of surgery at the Medical University of South Carolina and has published over 30 articles in the medical literature and presented nearly 100 times at major medical conferences. He is an active teacher in the Spartanburg Regional Medical Center surgical residency (was program director for nine years) and has won teaching awards from the Spartanburg surgical residency and the University of Massachusetts surgical residency.
In addition to his clinical practice, Dr. Orr received a Master of Public Health from the University of Massachusetts - with concentration in epidemiology and biostatistics.
SpecialtiesDoctors may have more than one area of specialty interest. Board certification in a specialty area means the doctor has completed formal training and has practice experience in that specialty, and has passed the certification examination from the corresponding accredited medical specialty board.
Doctors may have more than one area of specialty interest. Board certification in a specialty area means the doctor has completed formal training and has practice experience in that specialty, and has passed the certification examination from the corresponding accredited medical specialty board.
Surgical Oncology
Surgery
Languages spoken
English
Doctor Q&A
444 Answers
321 Agrees
The number of answers this doctor has agreed with.
A member asked:
Dr. Richard Orranswered
Surgical Oncology 46 years experience
No and Yes: Cancer that starts in the bone (osteosarcoma or chondrosarcoma) is rare. However, many cancers - esspecially common ones like breast, prostate, and l... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 40-year-old member asked:
Dr. Richard Orranswered
Surgical Oncology 46 years experience
Surgical oncologists: Until the last decade, general surgeons did most thyroidectomies. Recently, many ENT programs offer substantial experience. Surgical oncologists typi... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.8k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 20-year-old member asked:
Dr. Richard Orranswered
Surgical Oncology 46 years experience
No: Fortunately, not every exposure causes transmission of disease. But get it checked out and practice safe sex in the future.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 25-year-old female asked:
Dr. Richard Orranswered
Surgical Oncology 46 years experience
You can't: The size and shape of your buttocks, breasts, and hips are largelly determined by genetics, diet, and to some extent exercise. Women tend to get bigge... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 29-year-old member asked:
Dr. Richard Orranswered
Surgical Oncology 46 years experience
Yes: As long as you are not having pain there shouldn't be a problem.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 47-year-old member asked:
Dr. Richard Orranswered
Surgical Oncology 46 years experience
May be serious: No big deal if this is only very occasional. But if the stool is persistently white or clay colored it could mean that you have a blockage that is st... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 21-year-old member asked:
Dr. Richard Orranswered
Surgical Oncology 46 years experience
Chemo and radiation: First - anal cancer is different from rectal cancer - this answer is for anal cancer. Most anal cancers are treated with chemotherapy and radiation. ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 37-year-old member asked:
Dr. Richard Orranswered
Surgical Oncology 46 years experience
Hopefully: After surgery, we try to suppress potential regrowth of thyroid ca by giving a larger than normal dose of thyroid hormone (synthroid (thyroxine) or si... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.6k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 21-year-old member asked:
Dr. Richard Orranswered
Surgical Oncology 46 years experience
Some: There are different types of colon polyps. Some will not turn into cancer. But many (adenomatous polyps in particular) have a high likelihood of tur... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 21-year-old member asked:
Dr. Richard Orranswered
Surgical Oncology 46 years experience
Yes: Every time you smoke - you constrict the small blood vessels to the skin. Wound complications and poor cosmetic results are much more common in smoke... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.8k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 22-year-old member asked:
Dr. Richard Orranswered
Surgical Oncology 46 years experience
Need to be specific: Depends on the specific symptoms, your age and general health, and degree of anemia.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.1k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 22-year-old member asked:
Dr. Richard Orranswered
Surgical Oncology 46 years experience
Diagnostic tests: An ultrasound uses sound waves to create a picture. In the simplest way, a solid structure blocks the sound wave and creates a shadow behind it. Ther... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.1k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 21-year-old member asked:
Dr. Richard Orranswered
Surgical Oncology 46 years experience
Confusing diagnosis: There are many screening tests for pheochromocytoma - some are blood tests, some are urine tests. Screening is becoming less burdensome in the last s... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 21-year-old member asked:
Dr. Richard Orranswered
Surgical Oncology 46 years experience
Light skin people: Melanoma is related to having fair skin and sun (or tanning bed exposure). So all light-skinned people have some risk -especially if they live close ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 38-year-old member asked:
Dr. Richard Orranswered
Surgical Oncology 46 years experience
Heparin warfarin: Heparin (an anticoagulant is started immediately). Eventually, most patients are switched to a pill medication - typically Coumadin (aka warfarin) is... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 37-year-old female asked:
Dr. Richard Orranswered
Surgical Oncology 46 years experience
Adults: Melanoma can occur in any age, but is very uncommon in young children (exception: certain types of congenital nevi may predispose to melanoma. If you... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 21-year-old member asked:
Dr. Richard Orranswered
Surgical Oncology 46 years experience
Swallowing: Trouble swallowing is the main one. Others may include unexplained weight loss, microscopic blood in the stool, anemia, chest pain. Sometimes heartb... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 24-year-old member asked:
Dr. Richard Orranswered
Surgical Oncology 46 years experience
Blood test and CT: Blood tests to check for hormone excess production. A cat scan to look for adrenal enlargement.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 40-year-old member asked:
Dr. Richard Orranswered
Surgical Oncology 46 years experience
Look inside colon: You are sedated (very sleepy, but still breathing on your own). The endoscopist places an instrument through your anus and then passes it into the co... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 21-year-old member asked:
Dr. Richard Orranswered
Surgical Oncology 46 years experience
Questionable: The puma method is a series of habituation exercises developed by dr. Sam puma. Other than his own website and a few others linking to it, i couldn'... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 23-year-old member asked:
Dr. Richard Orranswered
Surgical Oncology 46 years experience
Many: There are many types. Anemia means that there is a decrease in the number of red blood cells. Probably the most common type relates to bleeding, e.g.... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 22-year-old member asked:
Dr. Richard Orranswered
Surgical Oncology 46 years experience
Depends: Depends on the reason that it is low. About the only thing that you can do on your own is dietary. If you have anemia because of low iron or vitamin... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 26-year-old member asked:
Dr. Richard Orranswered
Surgical Oncology 46 years experience
Looks grim: The presence of bedsores suggests a long-term problem. The drug overdose causing both a coma and kidney failure suggest mult-system organ failure. O... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 45-year-old member asked:
Dr. Richard Orranswered
Surgical Oncology 46 years experience
Several steps: 1) history and physical exam by doctor, 2) blood test to assess thyroid function. If hyperthyroid: needs treatment and usually a nuclear scan. 3) if... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 19-year-old member asked:
Dr. Richard Orranswered
Surgical Oncology 46 years experience
Many causes: A lot of reasons - some pretty bad, others not so much. You need a doc to examine you (you can't tell yourself - you need an exam). Not so bad: ana... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 32-year-old member asked:
Dr. Richard Orranswered
Surgical Oncology 46 years experience
Marrow + destruction: It is suggested that dengue fever may involve the bone marrow and cause suppression of new platelet formation. Another theory is that there is increa... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 27-year-old member asked:
Dr. Richard Orranswered
Surgical Oncology 46 years experience
If count is too low: Simply speaking, red blood cells carry oxygen to the tissues. When your RBC count is below normal, you have anemia - normocytic normochromic is one t... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.1k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 44-year-old member asked:
Dr. Richard Orranswered
Surgical Oncology 46 years experience
Get help: The main problem with bystanders and neck injuries is a desire to help them yourself. First - call for qualified help (ems, ambulance, 911). Sometime... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 40-year-old member asked:
Dr. Richard Orranswered
Surgical Oncology 46 years experience
Very: It can lead to paralysis. It needs to be managed by an expert in an appropriate setting.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 36-year-old member asked:
Dr. Richard Orranswered
Surgical Oncology 46 years experience
Usually CT scan: Usually by a ct scan done to workup flank or abdominal pain - sometimes a ct done for other conditions, and occasionally during a workup for hormone e... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 30-year-old member asked:
Dr. Richard Orranswered
Surgical Oncology 46 years experience
Yes: There are many diseases of the spleen. These can be a variety of infections that occur in the spleen, cancer can metastasize to the spleen, occasiona... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 27-year-old member asked:
Dr. Richard Orranswered
Surgical Oncology 46 years experience
Not neccessarily: Transvaginal ultrasound does not evaluate the lymph nodes in the abdomen (iliac and paraaortic) nor the upper abdomen. So if the cancer has spread to... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 41-year-old member asked:
Dr. Richard Orranswered
Surgical Oncology 46 years experience
Not likely: I have prescribed tamoxifen to several hundred women and have never heard any of them complain of that particular symptom. Main common symptoms are h... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 23-year-old member asked:
Dr. Richard Orranswered
Surgical Oncology 46 years experience
See your doctor: Depends upon your age and whether you smoke and drink alcohol. Most nodes in the neck are benign and related to inflammation/infection. But, tumors... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.1k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 54-year-old member asked:
Dr. Richard Orranswered
Surgical Oncology 46 years experience
Adrenal failure: Addison's disease means that the adrenals are not producing enough hormones. Although potentially fatal, it is very treatable after diagnosis. Presi... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 25-year-old member asked:
Dr. Richard Orranswered
Surgical Oncology 46 years experience
No: Look at your skin ( and have someone else look at the areas that you can't see). Things to worry about: asymmetry - not round, borders - not smooth,... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 18-year-old member asked:
Dr. Richard Orranswered
Surgical Oncology 46 years experience
Many: In the US, alcoholic cirrhosis is the most common. Other causes are hepatitis B and C, primary biliary cirrhosis, and a variety of uncommon diseases ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 67-year-old member asked:
Dr. Richard Orranswered
Surgical Oncology 46 years experience
For spine fractures: I think you mean kyphoplasty. Although I do not do these procedures, there is abundant material on the internet (search the mayo clinic site for examp... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 26-year-old member asked:
Dr. Richard Orranswered
Surgical Oncology 46 years experience
See a physician: The combination of abdominal pain with bloody mucus in the stoool suggests colitis. The indigestion could be realted, but could indicate an issue wit... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 40-year-old member asked:
Dr. Richard Orranswered
Surgical Oncology 46 years experience
Yes: Endocrinologists are good at diagnosis and many do ultrasound guided fine needle aspiration when needed. Most general surgeons and otolaryngologists ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 37-year-old member asked:
Dr. Richard Orranswered
Surgical Oncology 46 years experience
Benign tumor: Fibroadenomas are common noncancerous (benign) tumors of the breast. They frequently appear in older teenagers and young adults. Get it checked out.... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 31-year-old member asked:
Dr. Richard Orranswered
Surgical Oncology 46 years experience
Two problems: 1) how do you stop underage drinking and driving. Motor vehicle crashes from dwi are a terrible problem and adding younger drivers, drinking, will in... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 40-year-old member asked:
Dr. Richard Orranswered
Surgical Oncology 46 years experience
Unknown: Probably has the same risk factors as any breast cancer. Having a family history of bc is one of the most common "risk factors", but any woman can de... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 45-year-old member asked:
Dr. Richard Orranswered
Surgical Oncology 46 years experience
Usually: However, MRI is not always specific in determining cancer from benign. It cannot assess whether the adrenal tumor is producing hormones. This requir... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 34-year-old member asked:
Dr. Richard Orranswered
Surgical Oncology 46 years experience
Usually surgery: Recurrence in the neck is common and is usually treated with surgery (and sometimes radioiodine). These operations are complex and injury to the recu... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 32-year-old member asked:
Dr. Richard Orranswered
Surgical Oncology 46 years experience
Mastectomy lumpect: Usually mastectomy (with or without reconstruction is indicated). However, if the paget's is not associated with an invasive cancer - or if the cance... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 34-year-old member asked:
Dr. Richard Orranswered
Surgical Oncology 46 years experience
Slight: With modern techniques relatively uncommon, although x ray changes may occur more often than symptoms. Like anything else in the chest, side effects ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A member asked:
Dr. Richard Orranswered
Surgical Oncology 46 years experience
Call doc/ER: Multiple causes. Some very serious. Have it checked immediately. Common causes of acute pain over liver include gallstone disease and hepatitis. O... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.5k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 65-year-old female asked:
Dr. Richard Orranswered
Surgical Oncology 46 years experience
See your doc!: No one can make a diagnosis via computer, but you have several very worrisome symptoms. Obviously this could be cancer, but sometimes diverticulitis ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.5k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 22-year-old female asked:
Dr. Richard Orranswered
Surgical Oncology 46 years experience
Irritable bowel?: Irritible bowel syndromes are common and present with vague GI complaints including cramping, diarrhea, constipation, nausea, etc. Inflammatory bowel ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.5k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
TestimonialsRecommendations and Thank you notes are endorsements given from patients or other doctors.
Recommendations and Thank you notes are endorsements given from patients or other doctors.
4
Recommendations
637
Thank you notes
Nov 4, 2012
Very thoughtful and erudite answers that that are very helpful in answering patient's questions.
Nov 4, 2012
Caring, dedicated, knowledgeable.
HealthTap member
Mar 30, 2015
Dr. Orr is an amazing doctor! #nationaldoctorsday2015 #virtualflower1
HealthTap member
Thank you, your answer was very helpful! :) I must have had it a long time! Maybe 30 years ago!
HealthTap member
Thank you, your answer was very helpful! This clarifies things for me. Thank you.
HealthTap member
Thanks for your quick reply! I will see the doctor at the earliest. Thanks a lot.
Education & Training
Medical/Graduate school
University of South Florida College of Medicine, FL
Graduated 1977MD
Residency
University of South Florida
Residency
University of South Florida
Awards
Most Influential, First Place, Spartanburg Region - Spring
2015
Top Doctor, First Place, Spartanburg Region - Spring
2015
Top Surgical Oncologist, Third Place, National - Spring
2015
Affiliations
American College of Surgeons
American Association of Endocrine Surgeons
Southeastern Surgical Congress
Publications
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