Medical & Surgical Oncology

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What Is Surgical Oncology?

Surgical oncologists are surgeons who have also received extensive training in how to diagnose and treat cancer. Depending on the type of cancer you have, surgical oncologists may take part in multiple phases of your care. For example, your surgical oncologist may:

  • Remove one or more small tissue samples (biopsies) to diagnose your cancer.
  • Operate to remove part or all of your tumor.
  • Do more biopsies, during or after your treatment, to see how effective treatment has been.

How surgical oncology works

At times, strong drugs (like those used in chemotherapy) or radiation can kill cancer cells and stop the illness. But other times, cancers need to be removed through surgery. Tumors may:

  • Affect the proper function of organs or other structures.
  • Grow so large they block or invade other parts of the body.
  • Produce substances that make the cancer worse.

Our surgeons will assess your tumor to see if it can be removed. This can potentially cure your cancer or reduce its effects. In addition to removing your tumor or diagnosing your cancer, your doctor may suggest surgery for other reasons, such as to:

  • Debulk (remove part of) the tumor. Surgeons do this either because they can't safely remove the whole tumor or to help prepare your body for further treatment.
  • Learn the cancer's exact location.
  • See if your cancer has spread or affects how well your other organs work.
  • Restore your body's appearance or function.
  • Relieve certain side effects you may be experiencing.

Types of cancer surgery

Surgeons can use:

  • Minimally invasive techniques to remove cancerous tissues. Small "keyhole" incisions can reduce your time in the hospital healing. They can also make it easier to get back to your normal daily life.
  • Advanced robotic surgery combines minimally invasive techniques with robotic technology to achieve an even greater degree of precision.
  • Open surgery if a tumor is very large or not accessible by minimally invasive methods.

In each case, proper anesthesia and pain control make surgery and recovery as comfortable as possible. Your care team will discuss which surgical approach is best for your situation.