About Surgical Oncology

Surgical oncology is a branch of medicine that focuses on treating cancer through surgical methods. Surgical oncologists perform a range of essential functions, including:

• Diagnosing cancer and determining its stage through biopsies or other methods.
• Surgically removing tumors, either partially or entirely.
• Removing tumors along with any other affected body parts when necessary.
• Reconstructing areas affected by surgery to restore functionality or appearance.

Surgical oncologists play a vital role in multidisciplinary cancer care. They are skilled in managing both simple and complex cases involving primary and secondary cancers. Additionally, they are well-versed in cancer biology, imaging techniques, and complementary therapies like radiation, chemical, and biological treatments.

Procedures in Surgical Oncology

Cancer surgeries fall primarily into two categories: open surgery and minimally invasive surgery.

• Open Surgery: The oncologist makes a large incision to remove part or all of a tumor, often along with some surrounding healthy tissue (margins).

• Minimally Invasive Surgery: These techniques involve smaller incisions and may include:

  • Laparoscopy: The surgeon makes small incisions and inserts a laparoscope, a thin tube with a camera, to visualize and remove tumors using specialised tools.
  • Laser Surgery: High-intensity light beams are used to target and remove cancer cells.
  • Cryosurgery: Liquid nitrogen is applied to freeze and destroy cancer cells.
  • Robotic Surgery: Similar to laparoscopy, but the surgeon operates robotic instruments via a computer console for enhanced precision.

Non-surgical treatments, such as chemotherapy, radiation, or hormone therapy, are often used alongside surgery. These treatments can be administered before surgery (neoadjuvant therapy) to shrink tumours or after surgery (adjuvant therapy) to help prevent cancer recurrence.