Franklin Community Health Network
Surgeons performing an operation

Surgery

Franklin Health Surgery provides comprehensive evaluation and management of most conditions requiring general surgery, as well as advanced laparoscopic surgery, upper endoscopy, colonoscopy and 3D stereotactic needle breast biopsy.

Our Providers

Joseph Caruso, MD, FACS
Anfin Erickson, MD 
Eric Gunther, MD, FACS
Betsy Norton, PA-C
Amy Tan, MD 
 

Our care team includes physicians, physician assistants, anesthesiologists, registered nurses and surgical technicians. We are committed to ensuring that each of our patients receives high-quality, compassionate care from consultation to surgery to follow-up. Services include:

  • Minimally invasive surgery of the gallbladder, appendix, hernia, colon, etc.
  • Breast biopsy and surgery for benign and malignant conditions
  • Treatment and surgery of the colon, including cancer and diverticulitis
  • Thyroid biopsy and surgery for benign and malignant conditions
  • Treatment of melanoma including lymph node surgery
  • Treatment of non-melanoma skin cancer including fascial plastics
  • Treatment of abdominal wall and groin hernias
  • Port placement for chemotherapy
  • Biopsy and removal of superficial lesions, benign or malignant
  • Treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome, trigger finger, and hand mass excision
  • Treatment of benign anorectal pathology such as abscess, hemorrhoid, or fissure
  • Colonoscopy and upper endoscopy, including treatment of esophageal stricture
  • Vasectomy
  • Wound care
  • Treatment of emergencies such as appendicitis, bowel obstruction, and bowel perforation

Conditions Treated

  • Breast cancer
  • Skin cancer
  • Colon cancer
  • Hernias
  • Esophageal strictures
  • Emergency services

Patient Education

If you have a scheduled surgery, you will receive an information kit that explains the procedure and what to expect, pain management, types of anesthesia, preadmission visits, testing and post-op care. We are also here to answer any questions that you or your family may have about the surgery.

Contact Us

We are on the 2nd floor of the Franklin Health Medical Arts Center, located on the Franklin Memorial Hospital campus. Office hours are Monday-Friday: 8 am - 4:30 pm

Phone: 207-778-6579
To reach us when the office is closed, call Franklin Memorial Hospital at 207-778-6031 and ask the operator to assist you in speaking with the provider on call.

Appointment Policy: If you are unable to make your appointment, 24-hour advance notice is appreciated. This allows us to open up that time for another patient needing care.

Prescription Refills: Please contact us at least 48 hours before you need to have a prescription refilled.

Emergencies: Please call 911 in case of emergency, such as loss of consciousness, chest pain, severe breathing problems, or major bleeding. Do not delay emergency care by calling our office or the hospital. After emergency care, if necessary, call your physician for further advice and care coordination.

About Your Colon

Preparing for a colonoscopy

A colonoscopy allows your doctor to look at the colon and to remove any polyps that might turn into cancer. Colonoscopies can prevent cancer or stop it from developing. Talk with your doctor about whether a colonoscopy is the right screening test for you

You will need to do some preparation at home before the test. This enables your doctor to have a clear view of your colon. Your doctor will give you instructions. Make sure to read the instructions carefully and call with any questions.


Many of the symptoms of colon cancer can be caused by something that isn’t cancer. However, if you have any of the problems below, contact your doctor promptly so the cause can be found and treated, if needed.

  • A change in bowel habits, such as diarrhea, constipation, or narrowing of the stool, that lasts for more than a few days
  • A feeling that you need to have a bowel movement that is not relieved by doing so
  • Rectal bleeding
  • Dark stools, or blood in the stool
  • Cramping or abdominal (belly) pain
  • Weakness and fatigue
  • Unintended weight loss