Education
Outlook for Women's Cancer Care in 2026: Reasons for Hope
4 min. read
Baptist Health Miami Cancer Institute
Cancer care for women is changing quickly — and in many cases, for the better. In 2026, new technology is helping doctors treat breast and gynecologic cancers more precisely, often with smaller surgeries, fewer side effects and better cosmetic results.
At Baptist Health Miami Cancer Institute, gynecologic oncologist John P. Diaz, M.D., and breast surgeon Mehran Habibi, M.D., are helping lead these advances — always with a focus on what matters most to patients: safety, effectiveness and quality of life.
A More Personalized Approach to Breast Cancer Surgery
Breast cancer surgery has come a long way from the more aggressive procedures performed decades ago. Today, the goal is to remove the cancer while preserving as much healthy tissue — and natural appearance — as possible.
Dr. Habibi, chief of breast surgery at Miami Cancer Institute and deputy chief of breast surgery for Baptist Health Cancer Care, explains that artificial intelligence (AI) is now helping surgeons plan operations more accurately than ever.
“Before we even enter the operating room, we can use advanced imaging tools to measure the tumor and compare it to the size and shape of the breast,” Dr. Habibi says. “That allows us to choose the safest procedure that also protects how a woman looks and feels after surgery.”
In many cases, that means a lumpectomy — removing only the cancerous area — instead of a full mastectomy. These procedures can often be combined with reconstructive techniques at the same time.
“This isn’t about doing less treatment,” Dr. Habibi says. “It’s about doing the right treatment for each individual woman.”
For some patients, that may even mean shrinking the tumor first with medication before surgery, giving surgeons more options and improving results.
Smaller Incisions, Faster Recovery
Robotic surgery has already transformed care for many gynecologic cancers, including uterine and ovarian cancers. Using robotic systems, surgeons operate through tiny incisions with enhanced visualization and extremely precise movements.
“The robot doesn’t replace the surgeon,” Dr. Diaz explains. “It’s a tool that allows us to operate with greater precision and stability.” Smaller incisions often mean less pain, lower risk of infection and faster recovery times for patients.
Now, robotic techniques are beginning to expand into breast surgery as well. While still under study in the United States, robotic nipple-sparing mastectomy allows surgeons to place incisions in less visible areas, such as under the breast.
“The goal is to maintain oncologic safety — meaning we remove the cancer effectively — while improving cosmetic outcomes,” Dr. Habibi says. “For many women, that can make a meaningful difference, emotionally and physically.”
AI in the Operating Room: A Safety Partner
Artificial intelligence is also beginning to assist surgeons during procedures. Dr. Diaz compares it to the safety features in modern cars.
“Think of it like lane-assist technology,” he says. “You’re still driving the car. But the system alerts you if you’re getting too close to something.” In surgery, AI can highlight important structures, such as blood vessels or nearby organs, helping surgeons avoid complications and operate even more safely. “It’s an added layer of protection. It helps us be even more precise.”
Blood Tests That Help Guide Treatment
Beyond surgery, doctors now have more sophisticated ways to monitor how cancer is responding to treatment. One of the most promising developments is a simple blood test that can detect tiny traces of cancer DNA in the bloodstream. This allows doctors to see whether treatment is working — sometimes even before changes appear on scans.
“These tests give us real-time information,” Dr. Diaz says. “If the cancer markers disappear, that’s reassuring. If they don’t, we can adjust treatment quickly.”
In the future, this type of monitoring may help some patients avoid longer treatment than necessary — sparing them side effects — while ensuring others receive more aggressive care if needed.
Smarter, Targeted Medications
New medications are also becoming more precise. Some of the latest treatments are designed to seek out cancer cells specifically and deliver chemotherapy directly to them, limiting damage to healthy tissue.
“These newer drugs are much more targeted than traditional chemotherapy,” Dr. Diaz says. “We’re seeing better effectiveness with fewer widespread side effects.” These therapies are expanding options for both breast and gynecologic cancers.
Prevention and Early Detection Still Matter Most
Even with these advances, early detection remains critical, Dr. Habibi emphasizes.
“Screening saves lives,” he says. “When we detect breast cancer early through mammograms, treatment is often less aggressive and outcomes are significantly better.”
For gynecologic cancers, prevention is also possible — especially with cervical cancer.
“Cervical cancer is largely preventable,” Dr. Diaz says. “The HPV vaccine can dramatically reduce the risk, but vaccination rates in the U.S. are still lower than they should be.” The HPV vaccine is recommended for boys and girls before they are exposed to the virus and helps prevent several cancers, including cervical and certain head and neck cancers. “If we improve vaccination rates, we could potentially eliminate cervical cancer in the future,” he adds.
A New Era for Women’s Cancer Care
These innovations come at a pivotal time, as Baptist Health prepares to open the region’s first dedicated Women’s Cancer Center. The new center will bring specialists, advanced technology and clinical trials together under one roof.
“We’re entering an era where cancer care is more personalized, less invasive and more effective than ever before,” Dr. Habibi says.
Dr. Diaz agrees: “Our goal at Miami Cancer Institute is not just to treat cancer — it’s to treat the whole patient. Technology is helping us do that in smarter, safer ways.”
Click here for more information about cancer care services and clinical trials available at Baptist Health Miami Cancer Institute.
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John Paul Diaz, MD
John P. Diaz, M.D., FACOG, FACS, is a board-certified gynecologic oncologist and holds multiple leadership roles at Baptist Health Miami Cancer Institute, including chief of gynecologic oncology, director of robotic surgery and director of clinical research in gynecologic oncology. He also serves as chair of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Florida International University Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine.
Dr. Diaz provides comprehensive and compassionate gynecologic cancer care for women with endometrial, ovarian, cervical, vaginal or vulvar cancer. He has extensive training and experience in robotic and minimally invasive surgery, which results in shorter hospital stays and faster recovery times for patients.
A surgical innovator, Dr. Diaz has helped pioneer novel procedures such as fertility-sparing radical trachelectomy for early-stage cervical cancer and sentinel lymph node mapping in gynecologic malignancies. He also performed Florida’s first uterine transposition procedure for a patient with gynecologic cancer, preserving reproductive potential in a groundbreaking approach.
Under the direction of Dr. Diaz, Miami Cancer Institute’s gynecologic oncology research and clinical trials program offers innovative treatments and advanced technologies to women in South Florida. His research interests include new surgical methods for ovarian cancer and innovative cancer therapies like hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy and immunotherapy. He was awarded a $1.7 million research grant to investigate novel therapeutics for the treatment of gynecologic cancers.
Dr. Diaz has authored numerous peer-reviewed publications and presented his research at scientific symposiums. He serves as a reviewer for Gynecologic Oncology, BioMed Cancer, International Journal of Gynecologic Oncology and the Annals of Surgical Oncology. He also holds several leadership and committee positions within such professional organizations as the Society of Gynecologic Oncology and the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology.
Dr. Diaz earned his medical degree at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine and was inducted into the Iron Arrow Honor Society, the university’s highest honor. He completed a residency in obstetrics and gynecology at Jackson Memorial Hospital, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. He also completed a fellowship in gynecologic oncology at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York, N.Y., where he was awarded the Department of Surgery’s Chairman’s Award for Excellence in Clinical Research.
Dr. Diaz is dedicated to advancing women’s health, cancer care, surgical innovation and academic leadership on both a regional and national level. He is fluent in English and Spanish.
Mehran Habibi, MD
Mehran Habibi, M.D., MBA, is an internationally recognized surgical breast oncologist with over two decades of clinical and academic leadership. He serves as chief of breast surgery at Baptist Health Miami Cancer Institute and deputy chief of breast surgery for Baptist Health Cancer Care. His clinical expertise includes oncoplastic and nipple-sparing mastectomies, nerve-preserving and risk-reducing procedures, and advanced intraoperative tumor localization and margin assessment technologies.
Before joining Baptist Health, Dr. Habibi held senior leadership roles at Northwell Health, including director of breast surgery at Staten Island University Hospital, regional chief of breast surgery for Northwell’s Western Region and director of international program development for Northwell Cancer Institute. He also served as an associate professor of surgery at the Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell. Prior to that, he spent more than 15 years at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, where he founded and led the Breast Center at the Bayview Medical Center.
Dr. Habibi’s research program spans surgical innovation, genomics and tumor microenvironment studies. His current investigations include wire-free localization techniques, intraoperative margin assessment tools and studies of tumor tissue mechanics, breast cancer genomics, and the role of the microbiome in breast cancer progression and therapy response. His research has been supported by multiple grants and published in high-impact peer-reviewed journals.
Certified by the American Board of Surgery, Dr. Habibi is a fellow of the American Society of Breast Surgeons and a reviewer for The Breast Journal and JAMA Surgery. He is also an editorial board member of Archives of Breast Cancer.
Dr. Habibi earned his medical degree at Islamic Azad University in Tehran and completed surgical training at Pennsylvania Hospital and St. Luke’s Hospital. He completed a fellowship in complex surgical oncology at the Medical College of Virginia and holds a master’s degree in business administration from Virginia Commonwealth University.
Outside the operating room, Dr. Habibi is known for his love of photography, swimming and baking—where his pastry skills rival his surgical precision.
