Dr. Dan G. Blazer III

About Dan G. Blazer III

Accolades

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  Peritoneal Mesothelioma

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  Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy

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  Team Leader

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  10+ Years of Experience

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  Board Certified in Medical Oncology

Blazer has expertise with the combination of cytoreductive surgery and heated intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) that has proven so effective in extending survival for patients with mesothelioma.

He directs the Complex General Surgical Oncology and Hepatopancreatobiliary fellowship programs at the Duke University School of Medicine. He joined Duke in 2008, following in the footsteps of his father, a staff psychiatrist for almost 40 years.

“I grew up in the Duke family,” Blazer said. “I love being affiliated with Duke. Patients here get the very best level of care.”

He specializes in the surgical management of gastrointestinal malignancies, often advanced-stage colorectal, pancreatic and gastric cancers.

“I’m always amazed how patients cope with these difficult diagnoses, how they maintain such an optimistic spirit,” he said. “Seeing that with these advanced malignancies is very inspiring to me.”

Blazer stresses the importance of offering patients a number of treatment options, emphasizing the high-level, multidisciplinary approach to care that is typical at Duke.

Almost all his cancer cases go before a tumor board, which ensures all treatment options are discussed and considered.

The Division of Surgical Oncology at Duke has a wide range of experience, providing services from the routine to the most complex procedures.

Personalizing Treatment Is Key

Outside the clinic, Blazer has focused on translational and outcomes research, working to develop a more personalized approach to treatment.

He has worked with the National Cancer Database to better understand the impact and utilization of the multimodality approach to soft tissue sarcoma and gastrointestinal malignancies.

He is also the principal investigator in several clinical trials, including one studying new devices to reduce or eliminate postoperative infections.

Blazer’s expertise in the HIPEC procedure, which is performed only in specialized centers around the country, has created optimism among those with peritoneal malignancies.

HIPEC circulates a heated chemotherapy solution throughout the abdominal cavity immediately following surgical resection. The solution is designed to eliminate any cancer cells that evaded the surgeon.

HIPEC has extended lives of those with peritoneal mesothelioma significantly. According to several studies, almost half of those treated with the combination live longer than five years.

As part of his training, Blazer completed surgical oncology fellowships at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center and the National Cancer Institute.

His residency was at the University of Michigan Medical Center. He graduated from the Duke University School of Medicine.