Wei S. Tan, MD, PhD

Wei Shen Tan, MD, PhD, is a urologic oncologist who treats bladder, prostate, and kidney cancer.

Dr. Tan says he was drawn to his specialty because of the variety of conditions and treatments it offers. “We treat patients with surgery but also with medications and other treatments,” he says. “Surgery is one of the treatment options available, particularly with urologic cancers.”

When working with patients, Dr. Tan says he customizes care to their needs. “My task is to guide patients from cancer diagnosis to giving them the information they need so that we can make a joint decision in how to approach their care and move forward,” he says. “My preferred approach if we are going with surgical treatment, is minimally invasive robotic surgery, where possible. This allows the patient to recover much quicker and get on with their lives.”

Recognizing that cancer is a difficult diagnosis for patients to accept, Dr. Tan says he makes it a priority to be frank with them and offer realistic expectations. “I make sure I fully explain their treatment options and customize the information for them,” he says.

Dr. Tan’s research focuses on bladder cancer, including optimizing ways to investigate patients for cancer, characterization of cancer to allow a personalized approach, and novel therapies. “I’m interested in tailoring treatments appropriately to minimize overtreatment and provide the best care for them,” he says.