Surgical Oncology

Oncologists are doctors who help to prevent and to treat cancer. They work with your primary care doctor to come up with a treatment plan for you. Surgical oncologists use surgery to improve your condition. Their main job is to remove tumours and nearby tissue that has cancer cells in it. They also do procedures called biopsies that tell if you have cancer and how severe it is.

Surgical oncology can help people during the early stages of cancer or when the condition is more advanced. Some common reasons you might need this type of intervention are:

• To prevent cancer. If you have a high risk of getting the disease in a certain part of your body, a surgical oncologist can do an operation to prevent it. They remove tissue in the area that’s precancerous or likely to become cancer. For example, some women who have a very strong family history of breast or ovarian cancer and mutations in genes that are linked with the disease may work with a surgical oncologist to remove their breasts before cancer appears.
• To see if you have cancer. When your doctor sees a growth or other signs of a tumour, a surgical oncologist can remove all or part of the tissue. Then, a scientist can study it under a microscope to see if it has cancer cells. This procedure is called a biopsy. What is a surgical oncologist?
• Surgical oncologists are surgeons who specialize in the treatment of cancer. General surgical oncologists treat cancers of the skin, lymph nodes, soft tissues (muscle, fat, and blood vessels), breast, thyroid and other endocrine organs, intestines (stomach, small bowel, colon, rectum and anus), and the peritoneum (lining of the abdomen).

To become a surgical oncologist, a surgeon must first be a qualified general surgeon. This requires 4 years of medical school, plus 5 or 6 years of residency training. After that, a 2-year specialized training program (fellowship) in surgical oncology is required. Three Canadian medical schools have recognized surgical oncology fellowships – the University of Toronto, McGill University, and the University of Calgary. These training programs must meet accreditation standards established by the Royal College of Surgeons of Canada and the Society of Surgical Oncology in the United States. In 2010, surgical oncology was recognized as a subspeciality by the Royal College of Surgeons of Canada. Since that year, all graduating fellows must pass a national examination to qualify as a surgical oncologist.

Effective treatment of many cancers requires a combination of surgery, medications, and/or radiation therapy. Medical oncologists are experts in the use of medications (chemotherapy, immunotherapy, targeted biologic therapies, etc), while radiation oncologists are experts in the use of radiotherapy, to treat cancer. Other experts, including radiologists (who interpret images such as CT scan, MRI, etc), pathologists (who study cancer cells under the microscope), nurses, pharmacists, palliative care teams (who specialize in treating patient symptoms), and many others, are also important members of the cancer care team. Surgical oncologists are experts in the use of surgical techniques to diagnose and treat cancer. Surgery is an essential part of effective treatment for many cancer types but recommendations about surgery – whether it is for a small biopsy or a lengthy complex operation – are best made by surgeons who work in close coordination with other cancer specialists. Surgical oncologists have specialized training and daily experience working in teams to build the best possible treatment plan for each individual patient.

No – any cancer patient can be referred to see a surgical oncologist.

Some cancers occur more frequently and usually have well established treatments. Most patients with these cancers receive excellent surgical care from general surgeons and other specialists. However, some of these patients have complex medical problems or a specific issue related to their surgery that requires more specialized assessment. These patients are referred to see a surgical oncologist.

Many cancers occur less frequently and do not have well established treatment protocols. These “rare” tumours are often referred to a surgical oncologist, who may see many more of them than any other surgeon or general practitioner. Surgical oncologists become experts in “rare” or “orphan” cancers and develop treatment recommendations based on knowledge of how tumours behave, available treatment options, and the newest research findings.

There are constant improvements in treatments and surgical oncologists remain up to date on these treatments through participation in research, networks of experts, and regular conferences to review scientific evidence. Surgical oncologists are leaders in the development and implementation of new effective cancer treatments.

Most surgical oncologists treat a broad range of cancers, applying their knowledge of tumour biology and the best available treatment options. Some surgical oncologists develop a particular focus within their practice, treating more patients with a particular type of cancer. In order to focus on one area, these surgical oncologists forgo treating some other types of cancer.

Surgical oncology is a field of medicine that uses surgery to treat cancer. Its main goal is to find harmful tumors in your body and remove them. Doctors who practice surgical oncology can also see if you have cancer or find out if the disease has spread to other parts of your body

The most common procedures performed by surgical oncologists are biopsies and surgery for cancerous growth removal. They can also perform surgery to stage cancer and determine how far cancer has spread. In certain circumstances, surgical oncologists may also perform preventive surgeries

As surgical oncology is the first line of treatment, it can be used to treat most types of cancers including breast cancer, colorectal cancer, pancreatic cancer, liver cancer, head and neck cancer, lung cancer, ovarian cancer, etc.