Surgical Oncology

Surgical oncology is the branch of oncology that deals with the surgical aspect of cancer treatment. The primary goal of surgery is to resect or eliminate any tumours in the body. Doctors who practice surgical oncology are called surgical oncologists. These doctors also diagnose cancers and find out if the cancer has metastasized. 

Surgical oncology can help with most cancer stages, especially during the early stages. Surgical intervention is often needed for the following reasons:

• Cancer prevention: In patients with precancerous conditions, removal of the tumour can prevent it from turning malignant. For example, in patients with leukoplakia, removing the tumour can prevent it from turning into its malignant  counterpart. This is especially true when patients have a strong familial history or habits that are associated with cancer.
• Cancer diagnosis: Biopsies are minor surgical procedures that help diagnose the nature of a suspected tumour.
• Assess the severity: Surgery can help diagnose tumour metastasis to nearby lymph nodes and other organs. Even though imaging techniques are at the forefront of diagnosis, an open surgical view provides more accurate information in  complex cases.
• Cancer treatment: With surgery, it is possible to remove the suspected tissue completely and prevent its recurrence by removing some additional surrounding tissue. 
• Symptomatic relief: Sometimes, tumours compress surrounding structures such as the nerves and vessels, thereby blocking them and affecting their function. In such cases, patients may experience pain, numbness, weakness, or discomfort  for which, these tumours can be surgically excised. Surgeries done for the above reasons are known as palliative care surgeries.
• Aesthetic improvement: Cancers can distort the body shape, making us feel different and uncomfortable. Hence, plastic surgeries are performed to restore aesthetics and function in areas that have been affected by cancer. 

Diseases Treated

Cancer treatment requires a multitude of treatment approaches and not just one. Surgery is an essential component of cancer treatment that can not only cure but also prevent, diagnose and provide other benefits. Here are some diseases that often require surgery:

• Gastrointestinal cancers: A wide variety of GI cancers can be treated with surgery. These include oesophagal cancer, stomach or gastric cancer, small bowel cancer, colon, rectal, anal and gall bladder cancers and others. 
• Neuro-onco cancers: Cancers of neural origin are known as neuro- cancers. Some examples include astrocytoma, pituitary adenoma, glioblastoma multiforme, meningioma, schwannoma, glioma, metastatic brain tumours and others. 
• Genito-urinary and Gynaecological cancers: Various forms of genito-urinary and gynaecological cancers such as breast cancer, cervical cancer, prostate cancer and other such cancers can be treated with surgery. 

Key procedures performed at the centre

Surgery can help not only treat certain cancers but also diagnose, improve aesthetics, provide palliative care, and prevent cancer. Here are some key procedures carried out at Action Cancer Hospital:

• Thyroid surgery: Thyroid cancer surgery is a crucial surgery performed at ACH. Depending on the involvement of cancer, a total thyroid removal called thyroidectomy can be done or a part of the thyroid can be removed by a process called lobectomy. 
• Plastic surgeries and Reconstruction: Cancers tend to distort our natural body shape and size. Such distortion can impact one’s confidence and emotional aspect. To improve facial esthetics and other areas of the body, plastic  reconstructive surgeries for a crucial part of surgical oncology. Some examples include complex head and neck reconstruction, breast reconstruction, genito-urinary reconstruction, soft tissue cancer reconstruction and others.
• Biopsy: Biopsies are carried out for various reasons such as diagnosis, prevention and excision of tumours or suspected tissues. 
• Head and neck surgery: Cancers of the head and neck can be treated with minor surgical procedures as well as complex ones depending on the location and size of the cancer. Some examples of head and neck cancer surgeries include flap and grafting procedures, biopsies, tracheostomy, incision and drainage, palliative surgeries, endocrine surgeries and others.