Ask a Surgical Oncologist Online

Surgical oncology is the branch of surgery that deals with the management of cancer. A surgeon who is trained in performing operations for treating cancer is called a surgical oncologist. They help in the treatment of cancer by either removing the tumor or by performing a biopsy.

Surgery can be used to treat cancer, or it can be used with other treatments like chemotherapy, hormone therapy, or radiation therapy. The different types of surgeries used during cancer care are curative surgery, preventive surgery, diagnostic surgery, staging surgery, debulking surgery, palliative surgery, supportive surgery, and restorative surgery.

All cancers cannot be treated by surgery, for example, blood cancer. And sometimes, the patient might not be healthy enough to withstand surgery. For some, the tumor cannot be resected without harming important nearby structure. In such cases, your treating doctor will perform a lot of tests and come up with the best treatment plan to cure your cancer. With recent surgical and medical advancements, cancer is becoming a curable disease. It is important to detect cancer in its early stages, as in the later stages, it starts spreading to other organs. So if you are exhibiting any unexplained symptom, consult an oncologist at the earliest.