Surgical Oncologist

Conditions Treated

• •Breast Cancer — Most common cancer in Indian women. Surgical oncologists perform lumpectomy or mastectomy as part of multimodal treatment.
• •Colorectal Cancer — Cancer of the colon or rectum. Incidence is rising in India, especially in urban populations.
• •Stomach (Gastric) Cancer — Cancer of the stomach lining. More common in India's southern and north-eastern states.
• •Head and Neck Cancers — Cancers of the oral cavity, tongue, throat, and larynx. Strongly linked to tobacco and betel nut chewing — very common in India.
• •Soft Tissue Sarcomas — Rare cancers arising from muscle, fat, nerves, or blood vessels. Can occur anywhere in the body.

Health Tips

• •Get surgery at a high-volume cancer centre
• •Optimize nutrition before surgery
• •Ask about minimally invasive options
• •Complete recommended post-surgery treatment

How to Prepare for Your Visit

• •Get all staging investigations completed — CT/MRI/PET scans, biopsy reports, blood tumour markers
• •Optimise nutrition — high-protein diet before surgery improves healing (consult dietitian if needed)
• •Stop smoking — wound complications and infections are significantly higher in smokers
• •Discuss blood bank arrangements — some cancer surgeries may require blood transfusion
• •Family should be available for consent discussions and updates during surgery
• •Ask about drain tubes and when they will be removed — drains are common after cancer surgery
• •Early mobilisation is encouraged — get out of bed as soon as the surgical team allows
• •Pain management will be provided — inform the nursing staff if pain is not adequately controlled
• •Attend post-operative follow-up for pathology results — final staging is based on surgical specimen analysis
• •Start adjuvant treatment (chemo/radiation) within the timeframe recommended — delays reduce effectiveness
• •Follow the surveillance schedule — regular scans and blood tests detect recurrence early
• •Seek psycho-oncology support if needed — cancer diagnosis and treatment affect mental health significantly

Questions to Ask Your Doctor

• •What stage is my cancer and what does that mean?
• •Can the tumour be removed completely?
• •Will I need chemotherapy or radiation before or after surgery?
• •Is organ-preserving surgery possible?
• •Should I get a second opinion before surgery?
• •What is my tumour board's recommendation?

When to See a Specialist

A Surgical Oncologist specializes in removing cancerous tumours through surgery, often as part of a multi-disciplinary cancer treatment team.

• •Confirmed cancer needing surgical removal
• •Suspicious mass needing biopsy
• •Breast lump needing evaluation and possible surgery
• •Colon, stomach, or abdominal cancer
• •Melanoma or skin cancer needing excision

Surgical oncologists work alongside medical oncologists and radiation oncologists for comprehensive cancer care.