Dr. Sabha Ganai
Surgical Oncology
Springfield, IL
22 years experience female
Locations
SIU Physicians and Surgeons
Springfield, IL
My office hours
Friday: Closed
Show morePhone
Insurances accepted
Aetna
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois
Cigna
Coventry Health Care
Health Alliance Plan
Medicare
Humana Insurance Company
Private Healthcare Systems, Inc (PHCS)
Tricare
UnitedHealthcare
Simmons Cancer Center at Southern Illinois University
Springfield, IL
About
Bio
Sabha Ganai, MD, PhD, MPH, FACS is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Surgery at the SIU School of Medicine. She is the Director of Gastrointestinal Oncology at the Simmons Cancer Institute. She is the only surgeon in Central and Southern Illinois who is Certified in both General Surgery and Complex General Surgical Oncology by the American Board of Surgery. She is the recipient of the 2015 Health Care Disparities Research Award from the Society for Surgery of the Alimentary Tract, Alpha Omega Alpha, and the 2017 Gold Foundation Award for Humanism in Medicine.
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
Doctor Q&A
109 Answers
51 Agrees
The number of answers this doctor has agreed with.
A 17-year-old female asked:
Dr. Sabha Ganaianswered
Surgical Oncology 22 years experience
Get checked ASAP: See a doctor. There are a lot of possibilities of what could be going on, but this has been going on for a while, and you are feeling pretty lousy.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 43-year-old member asked:
Dr. Sabha Ganaianswered
Surgical Oncology 22 years experience
Depends: Nanoparticles are not standard care for most kinds of cancers. You may be able to get them on clinical trial, but only for highly resistant / refract... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 31-year-old member asked:
Dr. Sabha Ganaianswered
Surgical Oncology 22 years experience
BRCA: The most commonly described genetic mutations associated with family history include brca1 and brca2 gene mutations. There are several other familial... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 46-year-old member asked:
Dr. Sabha Ganaianswered
Surgical Oncology 22 years experience
It Depends: Typically it depends on the receptor status (estrogen/progesterone/her2) and the size of the tumor. Tumors greater than a centimeter are generally pr... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 52-year-old female asked:
Dr. Sabha Ganaianswered
Surgical Oncology 22 years experience
Can improve: Lymphedema can be seen after both node dissection and sentinel node biopsy and having a mastectomy or lumpectomy doesn't make a difference. Ways to ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 44-year-old female asked:
Dr. Sabha Ganaianswered
Surgical Oncology 22 years experience
Dysguesia: Metallic taste is most often related to medications (and even vitamins). Otherwise, it is frequently seen in pregnancy, or even with the common cold... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 32-year-old member asked:
Dr. Sabha Ganaianswered
Surgical Oncology 22 years experience
Depends: While colon cancer that has spread distantly is considered stage IV (of 4) and has the worst prognosis, there are patients with isolated metastasis to... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 28-year-old male asked:
Dr. Sabha Ganaianswered
Surgical Oncology 22 years experience
Hard to Predict: Among all patients with breast cancer who present with distant disease, one fourth will survive beyond 5 years. It would be good to know the patient'... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 35-year-old member asked:
Dr. Sabha Ganaianswered
Surgical Oncology 22 years experience
Worrisome but...: In the grand scheme of pancreas tumors, patients with acinar cell tumors do much better than "classic" pancreas cancers. However, depending on locati... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 32-year-old member asked:
Dr. Sabha Ganaianswered
Surgical Oncology 22 years experience
Yes: Snuff use is related to an increased risk of oral and pharyngeal cancers. There are a lot of other contents in snuff besides tobacco that can cause h... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 36-year-old male asked:
Dr. Sabha Ganaianswered
Surgical Oncology 22 years experience
Healing Takes Time: Hard to say why you are having a bile leak without knowing the anatomical details about your liver surgery. Be patient and give it some more time, bu... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.2k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 70-year-old male asked:
Dr. Sabha Ganaianswered
Surgical Oncology 22 years experience
Unresectable: Unfortunately, the aorta is a major blood vessel, and if the tumor is invading the aorta, it is probably unresectable. The best treatment options are... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 20-year-old female asked:
Dr. Sabha Ganaianswered
Surgical Oncology 22 years experience
Nope: If you are okay living with the symptoms and the pain, there is no reason to put yourself through surgery. That is your decision. However, there are... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 36-year-old female asked:
Dr. Sabha Ganaianswered
Surgical Oncology 22 years experience
See your doctor: It is easy to know if it stops bothering you - you will be first to know that. If you are still having symptoms, your doctor may be able to tell by e... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.2k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 35-year-old female asked:
Dr. Sabha Ganaianswered
Surgical Oncology 22 years experience
Fissure: Sounds like you might have an anal fissure. See your doctor or ask to be referred to a surgeon for a proper exam. If it is a fissure, this can often... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 42-year-old female asked:
Dr. Sabha Ganaianswered
Surgical Oncology 22 years experience
Feel free to ask: Pictures are not always taken in the or, but if you ask in advance, your surgeon may be able to do it for you.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 50-year-old female asked:
Dr. Sabha Ganaianswered
Surgical Oncology 22 years experience
Yes: Recurrences are always possible, even up to 10 years out, but the majority of rectal cancers recur within 3-5 years. You should continue getting exam... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 40-year-old female asked:
Dr. Sabha Ganaianswered
Surgical Oncology 22 years experience
Lots of things: Thyroid problems, hormonal imbalance, polycystic ovary disease, medications, age, and genetics are all possible causes. If she is concerned, she shou... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 31-year-old female asked:
Dr. Sabha Ganaianswered
Surgical Oncology 22 years experience
Development: The baby was likely born with it and it randomly formed during development as a fetus. Malformations, including cysts, are events that can happen wit... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.2k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 30-year-old member asked:
Dr. Sabha Ganaianswered
Surgical Oncology 22 years experience
Discuss: Unfortunately, sometimes even the best treatments do not work to treat certain aggressive tumors. There is still hope, including entering clinical tr... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 44-year-old member asked:
Dr. Sabha Ganaianswered
Surgical Oncology 22 years experience
Depends: This depends on the biology of the cancer and the initial stage of the disease when brought to medical attention. "triple-negative" breast cancers (e... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A female asked:
Dr. Sabha Ganaianswered
Surgical Oncology 22 years experience
Yes: If you are planning surgery just for symptoms of pain related to varicose veins, it should be able to wait. Discuss this issue with your doctor/surg... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 47-year-old member asked:
Dr. Sabha Ganaianswered
Surgical Oncology 22 years experience
Don't Smoke: Most of the time reconstructive surgeons will not perform certain procedures if the patient is still a smoker. Smoking affects blood vessels and impa... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 48-year-old member asked:
Dr. Sabha Ganaianswered
Surgical Oncology 22 years experience
Anisocoria: There is a normal condition called anisocoria which is seen in 10-20% of people but the pupils are usually only a millimeter or so different. Dizzine... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 41-year-old female asked:
Dr. Sabha Ganaianswered
Surgical Oncology 22 years experience
Moderation: Everything in moderation. Don't over do it, but generally, cucumbers are quite healthy. Try to balance your diet, eating different types and colors ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 41-year-old member asked:
Dr. Sabha Ganaianswered
Surgical Oncology 22 years experience
Wear a good bra.: There is not a good "natural" way, besides getting pregnant! please stay healthy, and love yourself for who you are...
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 38-year-old female asked:
Dr. Sabha Ganaianswered
Surgical Oncology 22 years experience
Discuss: Klatskin's tumors are rare and often present where they cannot be operated on because of the amount of spread/invasion. Your dad has other medical pr... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 26-year-old member asked:
Dr. Sabha Ganaianswered
Surgical Oncology 22 years experience
Nope: However, sun block is very helpful in reducing the effect of uv radiation on developing lethal skin cancers such as melanoma. Avoid excess sun exposu... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 33-year-old member asked:
Dr. Sabha Ganaianswered
Surgical Oncology 22 years experience
Often: They are either metastatic lesions that spread from other parts of the body, or they are "primary" lung cancers that originated in the lung tissue. M... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 49-year-old female asked:
Dr. Sabha Ganaianswered
Surgical Oncology 22 years experience
Yes and No: It is true that doctors may not be able to give prognostic information if there is little prior experience with that kind of tumor. However, as a gen... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 37-year-old male asked:
Dr. Sabha Ganaianswered
Surgical Oncology 22 years experience
A little of both: It is unclear, but the virus may be better harbored around "mucosal membranes" like the oral cavity or genitalia, but hpv can also be on the normal-ap... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 51-year-old female asked:
Dr. Sabha Ganaianswered
Surgical Oncology 22 years experience
Recurrence: There is a high rate of recurrence after the delorme procedure, although it is a good way to avoid a major abdominal operation with less risk of compl... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.8k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 35-year-old male asked:
Dr. Sabha Ganaianswered
Surgical Oncology 22 years experience
Uncertain: Pain without gallstones and a normal gallbladder ejection fraction is not a great idea to be thinking about getting your gallbladder out. Would see y... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
1.2k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 36-year-old female asked:
Pain breathing just had gallbladder removed friday. hurts to breathe heavy. hurts on right side also
Dr. Sabha Ganaianswered
Surgical Oncology 22 years experience
Seek medical advice: It is fairly common to have right shoulder pain from the gas that is used to perform laparoscopic cholecystectomy - this sometimes can cause discomfor... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
1.2k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A member asked:
Dr. Sabha Ganaianswered
Surgical Oncology 22 years experience
Hard to say...: Spontaneous bleeding is more of a concern when platelet counts are below 20,000...
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
1.2k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 45-year-old member asked:
Dr. Sabha Ganaianswered
Surgical Oncology 22 years experience
Yes: Colonoscopies generally require slight insufflation of air into the colon... This distends it and allows your doctor to look for polyps. This distens... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 47-year-old member asked:
Dr. Sabha Ganaianswered
Surgical Oncology 22 years experience
Depends where: Pancreatic cystic neoplasms are either located in the head or tail of the pancreas. This may require a whipple procedure or just a removal of the tai... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 42-year-old male asked:
Dr. Sabha Ganaianswered
Surgical Oncology 22 years experience
See your doctor: It is unclear if this is related to your hemorrhoids, or if you are bleeding from elsewhere in your colon or GI tract. Your anxiety is definitely aff... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 48-year-old female asked:
Dr. Sabha Ganaianswered
Surgical Oncology 22 years experience
May be nothing but..: Would recommend getting looked at by your doctor. Depending on your cancer you may be due for some imaging.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.2k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 22-year-old female asked:
Dr. Sabha Ganaianswered
Surgical Oncology 22 years experience
Good Question: Hpv can be potentially be transmitted from kissing, especially french kissing because of contact with the mucosa - the inside lining of your mouth. I... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.2k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 45-year-old member asked:
Dr. Sabha Ganaianswered
Surgical Oncology 22 years experience
Tattoo?: Not sure if you mean tattooed on your abdominal wall? (your stomach can be tattooed by an endoscopist but noone would know about it!) discuss this w... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 45-year-old member asked:
Dr. Sabha Ganaianswered
Surgical Oncology 22 years experience
Anything is possible: There are certain cases where tumors can abnormally make the same hormone that normally indicates a normal pregnancy. In these situations, you would ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 44-year-old female asked:
Dr. Sabha Ganaianswered
Surgical Oncology 22 years experience
Typically: You should ask your surgeon, but normally, yes. I am assuming this is a hernia of the abdominal wall and not involving the chest.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 36-year-old male asked:
Dr. Sabha Ganaianswered
Surgical Oncology 22 years experience
Legumes: Legumes and lentils: are good to eat frequently; and high in protein!
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 40-year-old member asked:
Dr. Sabha Ganaianswered
Surgical Oncology 22 years experience
Hard to say: There are situations when a pathologist reviews the specimen again and finds higher grade "angrier" looking cells in the specimen - leading to an upgr... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 38-year-old member asked:
Dr. Sabha Ganaianswered
Surgical Oncology 22 years experience
Degree of Spread: "metastatic" implies that the cancer has spread to distant sites. This means that the cancer is more aggressive and is all over the body. For many k... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.2k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 39-year-old member asked:
Dr. Sabha Ganaianswered
Surgical Oncology 22 years experience
Should discuss: It is hard to say without more information - a simple cyst, small hemangioma, or fibronodular hyperplasia may require no changes, but a benign adenoma... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 54-year-old female asked:
Dr. Sabha Ganaianswered
Surgical Oncology 22 years experience
Retest later is fine: Transaminases (ast and alt) are liver enzymes that if elevated can suggest liver injury. That level is not concerning. Continue taking your tamoxife... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 58-year-old female asked:
Dr. Sabha Ganaianswered
Surgical Oncology 22 years experience
Can be delayed: Oncoplastic surgery can be performed a week (or later) after lumpectomy. Some surgeons routinely delay it so they can be sure the margins are clear ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 46-year-old member asked:
Dr. Sabha Ganaianswered
Surgical Oncology 22 years experience
Relax + get checked!: The best test will be to have a history and physical by your doctor. You may be of or nearing an age to have screening tests for breast and colon can... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.2k 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.
6
Recommendations
224
Thank you notes
Apr 14, 2013
I would trust my family in Dr. Ganai's hands. She brings science, talent and compassion to patient care. If you need a surgical oncologist, you would do well to consider her.
May 14, 2013
well thought and informative posts which patients find to be nuturing as well as educational
Apr 14, 2013
Dr. Ganai is a very well-educated, conscientious, and kind surgeon
HealthTap member
This made me feel good. Thanks! she did have to have a transfusion at 11 months , her counts were 8000, thankyou for your involvment in this questionaire and your kindness as a doctor, !:-)
HealthTap member
I had a complete hysterectomy in 90. Because of cancer cells. I am takenhormone medicine. Thank you for your time and input on my problem.
HealthTap member
Thanks for your quick reply! Thank u very much:-) i have chronic pancreatitis an a lot of pain,
Education & Training
Medical/Graduate school
Keck School of Medicine of University of Southern California, CA
Graduated 2001MD
Medical/Graduate school
University of Massachusetts Amherst
Graduated 2007MD
Residency
Baystate Medical Center / Tufts University School of Medicine
Awards
USC WVT Rusch Engineering Honors Program (1997)
Magna Cum Laude, USC Viterbi School of Engineering (1997)
California Academy of Family Physicians Preceptorship (1998)
Affiliations
Baystate Medical Center / Tufts University School of Medicine (2001-2010)
NorthShore University Health Systems (2010-2011)
The University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine (2010-2013)
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