Surgical Oncology

Surgical oncology is the surgical discipline dedicated to diagnosing, staging, and treating cancer through operative techniques. As an integral component of multidisciplinary cancer care, it complements medical and radiation oncology in targeting solid tumours with precision and care.

What surgical oncologists do

Patients typically seek evaluation from a surgical oncologist for:

• A suspicious mass or growth
• Abnormal findings on imaging (e.g. abdominal or pelvic organs)
• A confirmed tumour requiring biopsy, removal, or staging
• Pain, obstruction, bleeding, or systemic symptoms that may be cancer-related

Each evaluation involves comprehensive diagnostic work-up, including imaging, biopsies, and staging, followed by a personalized treatment plan—sometimes in coordination with chemotherapy or radiation specialists.

Key procedures and goals

Surgical oncology encompasses a range of interventions, including:

• Diagnostic surgery (to confirm or stage a tumour)
• Curative resections (complete removal with cancer-free margins)
• Debulking (to reduce tumour mass when complete removal isn’t possible)
• Palliative operations (to relieve symptoms or complications)
• Reconstruction (restoring form and function after tumour removal)
• Preventive surgeries (e.g., prophylactic organ removal in high-risk patients)

Surgeons may also perform highly specialized operations that can give patients better chances of cure, longer survival, and improved quality of life. Some advanced treatments offered by our surgical oncology team include Cytoreductive Surgery with or without HIPEC, Central Mesocolic Excision (CME), Total Mesorectal Excision (TME), and Pelvic Exenteration. These procedures represent the most modern standards of care and are tailored to each patient’s unique situation.

Minimally Invasive and advanced techniques

When appropriate, surgical oncologists employ advanced methods to reduce patient recovery time and surgical impact. These include laparoscopic surgery, robotic-assisted operations, ablation techniques, and image-guided interventions.

Why specialist training matters

Surgical oncology is typically pursued after general surgery training through dedicated programs, underscoring both the complexity of cancer care and the benefit of focused expertise. Research shows that surgeons with high workflow in cancer operations achieve better outcomes for their patients.

Collaborative cancer care

Care from a surgical oncologist is rarely solitary. It’s part of a broader, multidisciplinary team involving complementary surgical specialties, radiologists, pathologists, medical and radiation oncologists, nursing staff, and often ancillary providers like reconstructive surgeons or palliative care specialists to design the best individualized plan.