New Mexico Cancer Center welcomes breast surgeon
By Molly Ann Howell
Managing Editor
For years, women diagnosed with breast cancer in Gallup/McKinley County had no choice but to travel to Farmington or Albuquerque for treatment.
Now, thanks to three female doctors at the New Mexico Cancer Center, 2240 College Dr., patients can receive care closer to home. While three oncologists made up the team in 2025, a new breast surgeon has joined the group, completing the team that supports women during their cancer battles.
Dr. Colleen Kerrigan moved to Albuquerque about two months ago, and has already visited Gallup to prepare for her upcoming clinics and surgeries. She will hold her first Gallup clinics on Jan. 8 and 9, after which she will begin scheduling surgeries for her new patients.
Kerrigan attended medical school in Vermont before choosing the University of Toronto for her fellowship in breast surgical oncology. She chose the program partly for its extensive research and innovation, and partly because her husband is Canadian.
After finishing their training, the couple looked at a map to decide where to settle. Because they both love hiking, mountain biking, and the outdoors, they readily chose New Mexico.
Once they made that decision, Kerrigan began calling local facilities to find available surgical positions. When she contacted the New Mexico Cancer Center, she knew almost immediately that she belonged there.
“I came down here and met with [the team] and I was so impressed with this group,” she said. “I was impressed with the doctors here; I think they’re doing really amazing work, and I’m really impressed with the model of care that they have here, really prioritizing patient access, prioritizing keeping patients out of the hospital, and making ourselves accessible to them.”
She also said bringing care to Gallup was a huge plus.
“The opportunity to go out to Gallup was actually a huge draw for me, I was so excited about that idea and getting to build up a program,” she said. “I’m thrilled to be here.”
In October, the Sun reported that breast cancer is the most common cancer among U.S. women, excluding skin cancers, accounting for about 30% of all new female cancer cases annually.
Over the last 60 years, medical professionals have immensely changed how they treat the disease.
In the late 19th century, Dr. William S. Halstead pioneered the “Halstead radical mastectomy,” a technique where surgeons removed the entire breast, pectoral muscles, and axillary lymph nodes.
While Halstead’s methods significantly improved survival rates, the procedure left many women feeling insecure about their appearance.
By the 1970s and ‘80s, treatment began to change.
The invention of the mammogram in 1969 allowed doctors to find smaller cancers, leading surgeons to argue that Halstead’s radical approach wasn’t always necessary. Instead, surgeons began favoring lumpectomies—or “breast-conserving” surgeries—which remove only the affected tissue and preserve the rest of the breast.
The invention of the mammogram in 1969 allowed for finding smaller cancers in the breast, and surgeons began arguing that Halstead’s radical approach wasn’t always necessary.
Instead, surgeons began favoring lumpectomies—or “breast-conserving” surgeries—which remove only the affected tissue and preserve the rest of the breast.
Today, providers offer a variety of treatments. Depending on the cancer’s stage, options include different surgeries or therapies, such as hormone, radiation, targeted, or immunotherapy. While doctors still offer chemotherapy, it has become less common.
Kerrigan emphasized that regardless of the treatment plan, the team’s top priority is ensuring women continue to lead happy lives
“A lot of our patients live long, wonderful lives after they get through breast cancer,” she said. “We want people to feel good, look good, and feel like themselves. That’s an important piece of people’s lives after they’re treated for breast cancer.”
The doctors host a breast cancer-specific clinic at the Gallup location on Wednesdays, but women diagnosed with breast cancer can go into the clinic on other days as well.
The Gallup Cancer Center is open from 8 am – 5 pm Monday through Friday. To book an appointment call (505) 726-2400 or visit their website at www.nmcancercenter.org.
