Michael S. Porrazzo, M.D.

“I strive to put my patients at ease, to step into their shoes and to give them what they need to make the best choice for their unique situation. I will be their companion during their cancer journey.”

Board certified in radiation oncology with three decades’ experience in his specialty’s various treatment modalities, Dr. Michael Porrazzo uses radiation therapy to treat a wide range of cancers—including prostate, breast, skin and lung—at Beaufort Memorial New River Cancer Center.

Areas of Expertise

• External-Beam Radiotherapy - High doses of radiation, typically delivered in brief treatments occurring over several weeks, are used to destroy cancer cells and shrink tumors. Also known as radiation therapy.
• Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy - Small photon or proton beams of varying intensities are used to precisely irradiate a tumor. Owing to the ability of the radiation dosage to conform to the target and thus avoid or reduce exposure to healthy tissue, side effects of treatment are limited.
• Prostate Cancer Treatment - For men with localized prostate cancer, external-beam radiation therapy (EBRT) is often the primary treatment, producing outcomes equivalent to those of radical prostatectomy.
• Breast Cancer Treatment - Radiation therapy is a nonsurgical treatment to kill cancer cells and help prevent recurrence of the cancer.
• Lung Cancer Treatment - Radiation therapy may be used to treat lung cancer either alone or in combination with other treatments. It can be an especially good option for patients with complex tumors or those who prefer a noninvasive treatment method.

Video Visits

Dr. Porrazzo offers virtual visits in certain circumstances for patient follow-up. If interested, ask about the option when scheduling.

Background

The New York City native came to the Lowcountry in summer 2022 from Mary Washington Healthcare in Fredericksburg, Va., where he served as the medical director at the Regional Cancer Center at Montross. Previously he held the same position at the VCU Massey Cancer Center at Spotsylvania Regional Medical Center in Fredericksburg. Earlier in his career, he was an active pioneer in the use of such novel modalities as radioactive seed implantation, cardiovascular radiation and stereotactic radiation at Washington Hospital Center’s renowned Washington Cancer Institute in the District of Columbia. He has been an assistant professor at New York Medical College in Valhalla, Georgetown University in Washington and Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond.

As a longtime single parent with two sons and a daughter, now all young adults, Dr. Porrazzo quips that his leisure time has mostly been spent doing their laundry and paying bills. He enjoys collecting miniature cars and medium-sized rescue dogs as well.