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https://mychart.wellstar.org/mychart/signupandschedule/embeddedschedule?vt=1003&id=1821443045&view=plain

Karen Xu, MD

Specialties

Radiation Oncology

Education & Training

Doctor of Medicine

Karen Xu, MD

Radiation Oncologist with Wellstar since 2022.

Specialties

Radiation Oncology

Education & Training

Doctor of Medicine

Radiation Oncologist with Wellstar since 2022
  • Member of the Wellstar Medical Group Friendly image of Karen Xu MD Karen Xu, MD
  • Office Locations
  • Expertise
  • Patient Reviews
  • Publications & Articles

Office Locations


Expertise

Specialties

  • Radiation Oncology

Education & Training

  • University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine

Degree

  • Doctor of Medicine

Residency

  • Emory University School of Medicine

Certifications

  • American Board of Radiology - Rad/Oncology

Hospital Affiliations

  • Wellstar Cobb Hospital
  • Wellstar Douglas Hospital
  • Wellstar Kennestone Hospital
  • Wellstar North Fulton Hospital
  • Wellstar West Georgia Medical Center
  • Wellstar Paulding Medical Center

Languages spoken

  • English
  • Chinese

Patient Reviews

Overall patient rating

4.8

Based on 202 patient ratings

Treated me with courtesy and respect
I'd recommend this provider to family and friends
Shared easy to understand information
Listened to me carefully
Shared the right amount of information
Earned my trust

All reviews have been submitted by patients after seeing the provider.For more information about the review system, check out this Learn more about our review system.

Patient Reviews

5

Thank you. The care I received from the center, as well as from the doctors, nurses, and the entire team who performed the treatments, has been excellent. Everyone has been extraordinarily excellent. The only thing I would recommend is that there be more Spanish-speaking professionals. Thank you, and see you later.

May 8, 2025

5

Good job

May 2, 2025

5

Yes, I was very, very happy and pleased with the treatment and with the staff. They're very caring, very professional, and very knowledgeable. They really helped me through the process and just made me feel comfortable. Great team, from the guests, the front desk, to the techs, to the doctors, all great. And I give them a 10 plus. Thank you.

April 27, 2025

5

The facility was clean, the staff was friendly, the consultants were friendly and made me feel good.

April 17, 2025

5

Consistently excellent service.

March 21, 2025

5

I received good news that I am cancer free now and it was a good response and I appreciate Dr. Karen M. Xu for the results and the questions that I had to ask her. She answered all of my questions and I thank her very much.

March 21, 2025

5

My attending Doctor is very professional.

March 21, 2025

5

Everyone was very professional and polite

March 21, 2025

5

Everybody was very nice.

March 21, 2025

5

Awesome job! Keep up the good work!

March 21, 2025

5

The entire staff was very courteous, caring and professional.

March 21, 2025

5

Everyone is so friendly. They make you feel really comfortable, and they go beyond the call of duty to ensure that I'm relaxed and aware of the process. Very nice people.. everytime

March 21, 2025

5

They worked very hard trying to help us, even though there were some delays. I was very pleased.

March 21, 2025

5

Excellent experience.

March 21, 2025

5

Great service by staff and provider, pleasant staff, I would love to recommend anyone to this facility.

March 21, 2025

5

Great

March 21, 2025

5

You guys are awesome! Kindly keep up the good work! Wellstar experience is amazing! Keep on amazing us with your awesome service!

March 21, 2025

5

The staff is extremely professional and very nice and very courteous and I enjoy the interaction that I have with each one of the staff members that provide the service.

March 21, 2025

5

Wonderful!!

March 21, 2025

5

The entire staff is amazing. I don't have anything at all but good things to say about this group. They're wonderful.

March 21, 2025

5

The staff is amazing. Awesome.

March 21, 2025

5

Everyone was very cordial.

March 21, 2025

4

I am very grateful to the hospital and the entire team who provided my treatment. I suggest that the staff receive training on the equipment, especially those who do not have much experience. But, I am very grateful to each person who is part of the team.

March 21, 2025

5

Yes, the office was amazing. Sandra was just up and beyond wonderful and we love Dr. Xu. I loved the whole experience. They were amazing.

March 21, 2025

5

Fantastic

March 21, 2025

5

The Staff was very professional & would help you if you needed it. Their customer service dept. got on the ball as far as over phone communication & in person no matter what it was! Today's society it's very rare to well mannered but they are some. I would rate it well & give them a 10 !

October 20, 2024

5

Dr Xu is a terrific Oncologist!

June 28, 2024

5

Thank you. The care I received from the center, as well as from the doctors, nurses, and the entire team who performed the treatments, has been excellent. Everyone has been extraordinarily excellent. The only thing I would recommend is that there be more Spanish-speaking professionals. Thank you, and see you later.

May 8, 2025

5

Good job

May 2, 2025

5

Yes, I was very, very happy and pleased with the treatment and with the staff. They're very caring, very professional, and very knowledgeable. They really helped me through the process and just made me feel comfortable. Great team, from the guests, the front desk, to the techs, to the doctors, all great. And I give them a 10 plus. Thank you.

April 27, 2025

5

The facility was clean, the staff was friendly, the consultants were friendly and made me feel good.

April 17, 2025

5

Consistently excellent service.

March 21, 2025

5

I received good news that I am cancer free now and it was a good response and I appreciate Dr. Karen M. Xu for the results and the questions that I had to ask her. She answered all of my questions and I thank her very much.

March 21, 2025

5

My attending Doctor is very professional.

March 21, 2025

5

Everyone was very professional and polite

March 21, 2025

5

Everybody was very nice.

March 21, 2025

5

Awesome job! Keep up the good work!

March 21, 2025

5

The entire staff was very courteous, caring and professional.

March 21, 2025

5

Everyone is so friendly. They make you feel really comfortable, and they go beyond the call of duty to ensure that I'm relaxed and aware of the process. Very nice people.. everytime

March 21, 2025

5

They worked very hard trying to help us, even though there were some delays. I was very pleased.

March 21, 2025

5

Excellent experience.

March 21, 2025

5

Great service by staff and provider, pleasant staff, I would love to recommend anyone to this facility.

March 21, 2025

5

Great

March 21, 2025

5

You guys are awesome! Kindly keep up the good work! Wellstar experience is amazing! Keep on amazing us with your awesome service!

March 21, 2025

5

The staff is extremely professional and very nice and very courteous and I enjoy the interaction that I have with each one of the staff members that provide the service.

March 21, 2025

5

Wonderful!!

March 21, 2025

5

The entire staff is amazing. I don't have anything at all but good things to say about this group. They're wonderful.

March 21, 2025

5

The staff is amazing. Awesome.

March 21, 2025

5

Everyone was very cordial.

March 21, 2025

5

Yes, the office was amazing. Sandra was just up and beyond wonderful and we love Dr. Xu. I loved the whole experience. They were amazing.

March 21, 2025

5

Fantastic

March 21, 2025

5

The Staff was very professional & would help you if you needed it. Their customer service dept. got on the ball as far as over phone communication & in person no matter what it was! Today's society it's very rare to well mannered but they are some. I would rate it well & give them a 10 !

October 20, 2024

5

Dr Xu is a terrific Oncologist!

June 28, 2024

4

I am very grateful to the hospital and the entire team who provided my treatment. I suggest that the staff receive training on the equipment, especially those who do not have much experience. But, I am very grateful to each person who is part of the team.

March 21, 2025

4

I am very grateful to the hospital and the entire team who provided my treatment. I suggest that the staff receive training on the equipment, especially those who do not have much experience. But, I am very grateful to each person who is part of the team.

March 21, 2025

5

Thank you. The care I received from the center, as well as from the doctors, nurses, and the entire team who performed the treatments, has been excellent. Everyone has been extraordinarily excellent. The only thing I would recommend is that there be more Spanish-speaking professionals. Thank you, and see you later.

May 8, 2025

5

Good job

May 2, 2025

5

Yes, I was very, very happy and pleased with the treatment and with the staff. They're very caring, very professional, and very knowledgeable. They really helped me through the process and just made me feel comfortable. Great team, from the guests, the front desk, to the techs, to the doctors, all great. And I give them a 10 plus. Thank you.

April 27, 2025

5

The facility was clean, the staff was friendly, the consultants were friendly and made me feel good.

April 17, 2025

5

Consistently excellent service.

March 21, 2025

5

I received good news that I am cancer free now and it was a good response and I appreciate Dr. Karen M. Xu for the results and the questions that I had to ask her. She answered all of my questions and I thank her very much.

March 21, 2025

5

My attending Doctor is very professional.

March 21, 2025

5

Everyone was very professional and polite

March 21, 2025

5

Everybody was very nice.

March 21, 2025

5

Awesome job! Keep up the good work!

March 21, 2025

5

The entire staff was very courteous, caring and professional.

March 21, 2025

5

Everyone is so friendly. They make you feel really comfortable, and they go beyond the call of duty to ensure that I'm relaxed and aware of the process. Very nice people.. everytime

March 21, 2025

5

They worked very hard trying to help us, even though there were some delays. I was very pleased.

March 21, 2025

5

Excellent experience.

March 21, 2025

5

Great service by staff and provider, pleasant staff, I would love to recommend anyone to this facility.

March 21, 2025

5

Great

March 21, 2025

5

You guys are awesome! Kindly keep up the good work! Wellstar experience is amazing! Keep on amazing us with your awesome service!

March 21, 2025

5

The staff is extremely professional and very nice and very courteous and I enjoy the interaction that I have with each one of the staff members that provide the service.

March 21, 2025

5

Wonderful!!

March 21, 2025

5

The entire staff is amazing. I don't have anything at all but good things to say about this group. They're wonderful.

March 21, 2025

5

The staff is amazing. Awesome.

March 21, 2025

5

Everyone was very cordial.

March 21, 2025

5

Yes, the office was amazing. Sandra was just up and beyond wonderful and we love Dr. Xu. I loved the whole experience. They were amazing.

March 21, 2025

5

Fantastic

March 21, 2025

5

The Staff was very professional & would help you if you needed it. Their customer service dept. got on the ball as far as over phone communication & in person no matter what it was! Today's society it's very rare to well mannered but they are some. I would rate it well & give them a 10 !

October 20, 2024

5

Dr Xu is a terrific Oncologist!

June 28, 2024

5

Thank you. The care I received from the center, as well as from the doctors, nurses, and the entire team who performed the treatments, has been excellent. Everyone has been extraordinarily excellent. The only thing I would recommend is that there be more Spanish-speaking professionals. Thank you, and see you later.

May 8, 2025

5

Good job

May 2, 2025

5

Yes, I was very, very happy and pleased with the treatment and with the staff. They're very caring, very professional, and very knowledgeable. They really helped me through the process and just made me feel comfortable. Great team, from the guests, the front desk, to the techs, to the doctors, all great. And I give them a 10 plus. Thank you.

April 27, 2025

5

The facility was clean, the staff was friendly, the consultants were friendly and made me feel good.

April 17, 2025

5

Consistently excellent service.

March 21, 2025

5

My attending Doctor is very professional.

March 21, 2025

5

I received good news that I am cancer free now and it was a good response and I appreciate Dr. Karen M. Xu for the results and the questions that I had to ask her. She answered all of my questions and I thank her very much.

March 21, 2025

5

Everyone was very professional and polite

March 21, 2025

5

Everybody was very nice.

March 21, 2025

5

Awesome job! Keep up the good work!

March 21, 2025

5

The entire staff was very courteous, caring and professional.

March 21, 2025

5

Everyone is so friendly. They make you feel really comfortable, and they go beyond the call of duty to ensure that I'm relaxed and aware of the process. Very nice people.. everytime

March 21, 2025

5

They worked very hard trying to help us, even though there were some delays. I was very pleased.

March 21, 2025

5

Excellent experience.

March 21, 2025

5

Great service by staff and provider, pleasant staff, I would love to recommend anyone to this facility.

March 21, 2025

5

Great

March 21, 2025

5

You guys are awesome! Kindly keep up the good work! Wellstar experience is amazing! Keep on amazing us with your awesome service!

March 21, 2025

5

The staff is extremely professional and very nice and very courteous and I enjoy the interaction that I have with each one of the staff members that provide the service.

March 21, 2025

5

Wonderful!!

March 21, 2025

5

The entire staff is amazing. I don't have anything at all but good things to say about this group. They're wonderful.

March 21, 2025

5

The staff is amazing. Awesome.

March 21, 2025

5

Everyone was very cordial.

March 21, 2025

4

I am very grateful to the hospital and the entire team who provided my treatment. I suggest that the staff receive training on the equipment, especially those who do not have much experience. But, I am very grateful to each person who is part of the team.

March 21, 2025

5

Yes, the office was amazing. Sandra was just up and beyond wonderful and we love Dr. Xu. I loved the whole experience. They were amazing.

March 21, 2025

5

Fantastic

March 21, 2025

5

The Staff was very professional & would help you if you needed it. Their customer service dept. got on the ball as far as over phone communication & in person no matter what it was! Today's society it's very rare to well mannered but they are some. I would rate it well & give them a 10 !

October 20, 2024

5

Dr Xu is a terrific Oncologist!

June 28, 2024

5

Dr Xu is a terrific Oncologist!

June 28, 2024

5

The Staff was very professional & would help you if you needed it. Their customer service dept. got on the ball as far as over phone communication & in person no matter what it was! Today's society it's very rare to well mannered but they are some. I would rate it well & give them a 10 !

October 20, 2024

5

Fantastic

March 21, 2025

5

Yes, the office was amazing. Sandra was just up and beyond wonderful and we love Dr. Xu. I loved the whole experience. They were amazing.

March 21, 2025

4

I am very grateful to the hospital and the entire team who provided my treatment. I suggest that the staff receive training on the equipment, especially those who do not have much experience. But, I am very grateful to each person who is part of the team.

March 21, 2025

5

The staff is amazing. Awesome.

March 21, 2025

5

Everyone was very cordial.

March 21, 2025

5

The entire staff is amazing. I don't have anything at all but good things to say about this group. They're wonderful.

March 21, 2025

5

The staff is extremely professional and very nice and very courteous and I enjoy the interaction that I have with each one of the staff members that provide the service.

March 21, 2025

5

Wonderful!!

March 21, 2025

5

You guys are awesome! Kindly keep up the good work! Wellstar experience is amazing! Keep on amazing us with your awesome service!

March 21, 2025

5

Great service by staff and provider, pleasant staff, I would love to recommend anyone to this facility.

March 21, 2025

5

Great

March 21, 2025

5

Excellent experience.

March 21, 2025

5

They worked very hard trying to help us, even though there were some delays. I was very pleased.

March 21, 2025

5

Everyone is so friendly. They make you feel really comfortable, and they go beyond the call of duty to ensure that I'm relaxed and aware of the process. Very nice people.. everytime

March 21, 2025

5

Awesome job! Keep up the good work!

March 21, 2025

5

The entire staff was very courteous, caring and professional.

March 21, 2025

5

Everybody was very nice.

March 21, 2025

5

I received good news that I am cancer free now and it was a good response and I appreciate Dr. Karen M. Xu for the results and the questions that I had to ask her. She answered all of my questions and I thank her very much.

March 21, 2025

5

Everyone was very professional and polite

March 21, 2025

5

My attending Doctor is very professional.

March 21, 2025

5

Consistently excellent service.

March 21, 2025

5

The facility was clean, the staff was friendly, the consultants were friendly and made me feel good.

April 17, 2025

5

Yes, I was very, very happy and pleased with the treatment and with the staff. They're very caring, very professional, and very knowledgeable. They really helped me through the process and just made me feel comfortable. Great team, from the guests, the front desk, to the techs, to the doctors, all great. And I give them a 10 plus. Thank you.

April 27, 2025

5

Good job

May 2, 2025

5

Thank you. The care I received from the center, as well as from the doctors, nurses, and the entire team who performed the treatments, has been excellent. Everyone has been extraordinarily excellent. The only thing I would recommend is that there be more Spanish-speaking professionals. Thank you, and see you later.

May 8, 2025

Publications and Articles

Woman providers and breast cancer patient talking

What to Expect When You or a Loved One Are Diagnosed with Breast Cancer

Breasts play an important role when it comes to a woman’s health, yes, but often they’re an important part of a woman’s identity, sexuality and function too. With 1 in 8 American women developing breast cancer in their lifetime, the disease affects many people physically and emotionally.

In this article, a patient and a group of breast experts discuss the best ways to prevent and fight breast cancer, as well as how to support family members, friends, colleagues or neighbors who may be diagnosed.  

 Photos of a breast cancer survivor and physicians for the round table discussion


What do women struggle with the most during treatment, and what helps?

Tameka Pearson, breast cancer survivor: When I was diagnosed, I just went to pieces. I cried for about two weeks straight. There were tears in my eyes when I’d wake up. I didn’t want to eat or go outside. I had to process the information. I was getting phone calls—updates and making appointments. But I was still a mom and a wife and had to go to work. That was a lot. 

When I was a child, my mom would say, ‘Pick yourself up and dust yourself off and get moving.’ I gave myself permission to mourn for two weeks—permission to loathe, to cry, to get it out of my system. Once those two weeks were over, I was done crying—done feeling sorry for me. I picked myself up and persevered. I realized I have a lot to live for! I couldn’t give up.

Before breast cancer, I did everything for my family—cooking cleaning, washing clothes. When I was diagnosed, they immediately took over. They became more independent, especially my children. My husband became more of the provider and caretaker. My children were like, ‘Mom, we need you to sit down; we need you to rest.’

One of my coworkers from the past is also a survivor and started a group called Lean On Me. When I logged onto a Lean On Me Breast Cancer Network Zoom meeting, I loved it. They were uplifting, prayerful and gave me great information if I had questions. 

Margie Apacible-Mancao, MSN, RN, CBCN, nurse navigator: After the initial shock of diagnosis, it’s not uncommon to get depressed or anxious. There can be the stress of transportation, childcare if they have young children at home or financial concerns. Sometimes patients experience anxiety for the first time, sometimes they’ve had it in the past and being diagnosed brings it to the front. We can connect them to counselors, financial counselors and social workers, or they can join a support group. Meeting with other patients and survivors helps them know they are not alone, get through treatment with hope and form great friendships. We live in a society where we’re trained to be independent, but when I meet with patients, I say, ‘Allow yourself to receive help.’

Dr. Karen Xu, MD, radiation oncologist: In general, radiation treatment for breast cancer is very well tolerated and most women go through the treatment without much difficulty. The most common side effects are fatigue and skin irritation appearing as a sunburn-like reaction from radiation treatment. We see patients at least once a week during radiation treatment and we recommend different creams depending on how severe the skin radiation reaction is. Mild physical activity usually helps with fatigue.

Dr. Sujatha Hariharan, MD, medical oncologist: One of the initial concerns patients have when they start chemotherapy is potential hair loss. This can be devastating and disheartening. We are excited to now offer cool caps as a means to reduce hair loss from chemotherapy. Cool caps work by cooling the scalp, leading to constriction of blood vessels in the scalp. This might reduce the amount of chemotherapy that reaches the hair follicles leading to reduced hair loss from the head. The success rate of the cool cap can vary from person to person.

There is a vast cancer support network available through Wellstar. Aside from the doctors, patients have support from social workers, chaplains, dietitians, nurses and nurse navigators. A whole team of people is here to help patients through the process. Patients often meet other patients during treatment where they bond and support one another. This can be such a meaningful and valuable relationship.  

The main thing is you’re not going to be alone. Many people will be here to help you with all aspects of your care.

Continue reading this article
A group of female providers chatting

A Candid Talk About Your Breasts

Over the years, advice about breast self-exams and breast cancer screenings has changed. So what exactly should you be doing to make sure you’re staying your healthiest? We brought together a panel of women’s health experts to discuss the best strategies to keep tabs on your breast health—and who to talk to if you’re diagnosed with breast cancer.

Headshots of breast cancer panelists

I do breast self-checks every month. Why do I need a mammogram too?

Dr. Paula Greaves, MD, OBGYN, Wellstar chief Women's Health officer: Unfortunately, 1 in 8 women will develop breast cancer in their lifetime, so early detection is key. We have shown over the years that the sooner we detect breast cancer, the more successfully it can be treated. Survival has increased significantly since we started finding breast cancer earlier—before there are symptoms, such as feeling a lump during a self-exam.

Mammograms are essential for early detection. It’s recommended that women start getting mammograms at age 40. However, if you have a family history of breast cancer or other risk factors, your gynecologist or primary care provider may recommend starting earlier and will help you create a personalized screening plan. There are some risk factors that women cannot change, such as genetics, but there are some ways women can lower their risk, like quitting smoking, eating a healthy diet and exercising regularly. Wellstar offers 16 mammography locations, and our patients have state-of-the-art technology on their side. We offer high-resolution breast screening, including 3D mammograms.

Women should continue not only getting annual mammograms, but also seeing their gynecologist or primary care provider for regular breast exams. Women should also be aware of physical changes within their bodies, including breast changes. Changes in the texture of the skin or a lump or pain in the breast should always be checked out by their healthcare provider.

Margie Apacible-Mancao, MSN, RN, CBCN, nurse navigator: I am so passionate about breast cancer screening—every opportunity I have I tell patients to get a screening mammogram when they’re of age. Tell someone in your circle that you’re going, then they’ll tell someone in their circle and the circle gets wider so more people will get screened.

Does it mean I have cancer if the doctor recommends a biopsy?

Dr. Sujatha Hariharan, MD, medical oncologist: When a mammogram detects an abnormality, a biopsy might be indicated. Many breast biopsies will be non-cancerous such as fibroadenomas.  

If cancer is found on a breast biopsy, there are several parts of the pathology result that the care team will utilize to make a treatment plan. For example, the presence of estrogen and progesterone receptor positivity allows the potential for hormone therapy as part of the treatment plan. The HER-2 gene is also tested for and if that is present and positive, it allows for medication directed at the HER-2 gene to be given along with chemotherapy.  

Sequencing of the various treatments for breast cancer—surgery, chemotherapy, radiation and hormone therapy—will be determined as a collaborative effort between the breast surgeon and medical oncologist.

If I’m diagnosed, who should I talk to next?

Margie: The anxiety of not knowing their diagnosis or what’s next is one of the hardest parts. At Wellstar, patients have access to a nurse navigator on the day they are recommended to have a biopsy. We make an appointment with the specialists as quickly as possible because just knowing that someone is helping them get to the next step and get that appointment fast dials down their stress level. 

Dr. Karen Xu, MD, radiation oncologist:
If you are diagnosed with breast cancer, you will need to see a breast surgeon first to discuss your surgery options—lumpectomy or mastectomy; a radiation oncologist to discuss the duration of radiation treatment and whether lymph nodes should be included in the target; and a medical oncologist about whether endocrine therapy or chemotherapy is indicated and the timing of systemic therapy. Patients who desire reconstruction after mastectomy will discuss with a plastic surgeon the type and timing of reconstruction they want.


Schedule a mammogram

Find a breast imaging location near you online or call (678) 581-5900.

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Karen Xu, MD
Radiation Oncologist with Wellstar since 2022
Rating
4.8
Specialties
Radiation Oncology
Education
Doctor of Medicine
Medical School
University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine
Residency
Emory University School of Medicine
Certifications
American Board of Radiology - Rad/Oncology
Spoken Languages
English and Chinese
Hospital Affiliations
Wellstar Cobb Hospital
Wellstar Douglas Hospital
Wellstar Kennestone Hospital
Wellstar North Fulton Hospital
Wellstar West Georgia Medical Center
Wellstar Paulding Medical Center
Office Locations
www.wellstar.org/physicians/karen-xu-md
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Graduate Medical Education
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For the Media
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Help
Contact Us Pay Your Bill Policy & Privacy Information Hospital Transparency Information Price Transparency

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