Expert surgical oncology team providing precise, minimally invasive cancer surgery with personalized treatment plans for optimal outcomes and recovery.
Surgical Oncology is a specialized branch of surgery focused on the diagnosis, staging, and surgical treatment of cancer. It plays a crucial role in the comprehensive management of many types of tumors by removing cancerous tissues from the body while preserving as much normal tissue and organ function as possible. Surgical oncologists are highly trained in cancer-specific surgical techniques and work closely with other cancer specialists to provide coordinated and personalized treatment plans for patients.
Cancer can affect almost any organ in the body, and surgical oncology addresses a wide range of malignancies including breast cancer, gastrointestinal cancers, liver tumors, pancreatic cancer, colorectal cancer, gynecologic cancers, head and neck cancers, and soft tissue sarcomas. Surgery is often one of the most effective treatments for many solid tumors, particularly when the cancer is detected at an early stage. In addition to removing tumors, surgical oncologists may also perform procedures to obtain biopsies, determine the stage of cancer, or relieve symptoms caused by advanced disease.
Modern surgical oncology relies on advanced diagnostic and imaging technologies to accurately identify the location, size, and spread of tumors before surgery. Imaging methods such as CT scans, MRI, PET scans, and specialized biopsies help surgeons plan precise and effective surgical procedures. In many cases, cancer surgery is part of a multidisciplinary treatment approach that may also include chemotherapy, radiation therapy, targeted therapy, or immunotherapy.
Treatment techniques in surgical oncology continue to evolve with the development of minimally invasive and organ-preserving surgical methods. Laparoscopic surgery, robotic-assisted procedures, and image-guided techniques allow surgeons to perform complex operations with greater precision, smaller incisions, and faster recovery times for patients. These advancements help reduce surgical risks while improving outcomes and quality of life.
With access to experienced surgical oncologists, advanced technology, and multidisciplinary cancer care teams, patients can receive comprehensive treatment designed to effectively manage cancer and support long-term recovery and survivorship.
Explore procedures, recovery times, and what to expect from each treatment
Breast cancer surgery is the surgical removal of cancer from the breast and, where needed, the nearby lymph nodes. Options range from breast-conserving lumpectomy to different types of mastectomy, often combined with reconstruction. The right approach depends on the cancer, the breast, and personal preferences discussed with your team.
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Prostate cancer surgery, most commonly radical prostatectomy, removes the prostate gland and surrounding tissue to treat localised prostate cancer. It can be performed through open, laparoscopic, or robotic-assisted approaches, with the choice depending on the cancer, the patient, and the surgical team.
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Lung cancer surgery removes cancerous tissue from the lung, along with nearby lymph nodes, to treat early-stage and selected locally advanced lung cancer. The operation can range from a small wedge resection to removal of an entire lung, and may be performed through open, keyhole (VATS), or robotic approaches.
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Cervical cancer surgery removes cancerous tissue from the cervix and, when needed, surrounding structures. Options range from a small cone biopsy to radical hysterectomy, with fertility-sparing procedures available in selected early-stage cases. The right choice depends on stage, tumour features, and personal goals.
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Colorectal cancer surgery removes cancer from the colon or rectum along with nearby lymph nodes. The specific operation depends on the tumour's location and stage, and may be performed through open, laparoscopic, or robotic approaches. Surgery is often combined with chemotherapy or, for rectal cancer, radiation.
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Mastectomy is the surgical removal of part or all of the breast, used to treat breast cancer or reduce risk in people with very high genetic risk. Several types exist — simple, modified radical, skin-sparing, and nipple-sparing — and reconstruction may be offered at the same operation or later.
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Thyroid cancer surgery, or thyroidectomy, removes part or all of the thyroid gland to treat thyroid cancer. The extent of surgery depends on the cancer type, size, and spread, and may include removal of nearby lymph nodes. Most patients recover well, though many need lifelong thyroid hormone replacement and regular follow-up.
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Ovarian cancer surgery removes cancerous tissue from the ovaries and surrounding organs. It is used both to confirm the stage of disease and to remove as much visible tumour as possible. Several types and approaches exist, and the right plan depends on the stage of cancer, your overall health, and discussion with a gynaecologic oncology team.
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Bile duct cancer surgery removes cancerous tumours from the bile ducts, the tubes that carry bile from the liver to the small intestine. It is the main potentially curative treatment for cholangiocarcinoma and may involve removing part of the bile duct, liver, or pancreas depending on tumour location.
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Bladder cancer surgery removes cancerous tissue from the bladder. Options range from transurethral tumour removal (TURBT) for early disease to partial or radical cystectomy with urinary diversion for muscle-invasive cancer. The right approach depends on the cancer stage, grade, and individual factors.
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Bone cancer surgery removes a tumour from a bone, along with a margin of healthy tissue, to treat primary bone sarcomas or, less commonly, tumours that have spread to bone. Most patients today have limb-salvage surgery with reconstruction; approach, recovery, and follow-up depend on tumour type, location, and response to chemotherapy.
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Bone tumour surgery removes abnormal growths from bone, which may be benign or cancerous. Approaches range from curettage of small benign lesions to wide resection with limb-salvage reconstruction or, in selected cases, amputation. Recovery and adjuvant care depend on the tumour type and location.
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A breast biopsy removes a small sample of breast tissue or cells for examination by a pathologist. It is used to clarify suspicious findings on a mammogram, ultrasound, MRI, or physical examination. Several biopsy types exist, and most results turn out to be benign.
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Breast-conserving surgery, often called a lumpectomy, removes a breast cancer along with a rim of healthy tissue while keeping most of the breast. It is used for early-stage breast cancer and is usually followed by radiation therapy. The choice between this and mastectomy depends on the tumour, the breast, and a discussion with your oncology team.
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Chest wall tumor surgery removes growths from the ribs, sternum, cartilage, muscles, or soft tissues that protect the lungs and heart. It is used for benign tumors causing problems, primary cancers such as sarcomas, and selected tumors that have spread to the chest wall. Most operations also involve reconstruction to restore breathing and chest stability.
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CRS + HIPEC is a combined treatment for cancers that have spread to the lining of the abdomen. Surgeons first remove all visible tumour (cytoreductive surgery), then bathe the abdominal cavity with heated chemotherapy to target microscopic disease. It is a major operation reserved for carefully selected patients.
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Endometrial cancer surgery removes cancer from the lining of the uterus, most often through a hysterectomy with removal of the fallopian tubes, ovaries, and assessment of nearby lymph nodes. The right approach depends on the cancer's stage and grade, your overall health, and a careful discussion with a gynaecologic oncologist.
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Esophageal cancer surgery, known as esophagectomy, removes part or all of the esophagus along with nearby lymph nodes, then rebuilds the swallowing pathway using the stomach or, less often, the colon. It is a major operation used for localized and locally advanced disease, usually as part of a multimodal cancer plan.
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Gallbladder cancer surgery removes the gallbladder and, when needed, nearby liver tissue, lymph nodes, and part of the bile duct. It is the main curative treatment when the cancer is confined or locally advanced but still removable. The right operation depends on stage, location, and whether the cancer was found incidentally.
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Gastric cancer surgery, also called gastrectomy, removes part or all of the stomach along with nearby lymph nodes to treat stomach cancer. The type of operation depends on where the tumour sits, the stage of disease, and the patient's overall health, and is usually planned by a multidisciplinary team.
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Head and neck tumour surgery removes cancerous or benign growths from the mouth, throat, voice box, nose, sinuses, salivary glands, thyroid, or neck lymph nodes. Treatment is highly individual and often combined with radiation or chemotherapy. This guide explains the surgical approaches, recovery, and life afterwards.
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Hypopharyngeal cancer surgery removes tumours from the lower throat, the area behind and beside the voice box. Depending on the tumour, surgery may spare or remove the larynx and is often combined with reconstruction, radiation, and chemotherapy. Voice, swallowing, and breathing rehabilitation are central to recovery.
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Kidney cancer surgery removes a cancerous tumour from the kidney. Surgeons may remove part of the kidney (partial nephrectomy) or the whole kidney (radical nephrectomy), using open, laparoscopic or robotic techniques. The right choice depends on the tumour, kidney function and overall health.
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Laryngeal cancer surgery removes cancer from the voice box (larynx). Options range from minimally invasive laser or robotic procedures that preserve the voice to partial or total laryngectomy for more advanced disease. Surgery is often combined with radiation or chemotherapy, and recovery includes structured voice and swallowing rehabilitation.
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Limb salvage surgery removes a bone or soft tissue tumour from an arm or leg while preserving the limb. It is used for sarcomas such as osteosarcoma, Ewing sarcoma, chondrosarcoma, and soft tissue sarcomas. Several reconstruction approaches exist, and recovery typically unfolds over many months alongside chemotherapy.
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Liver cancer includes hepatocellular carcinoma, intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma, and secondary tumours that have spread from another organ. Treatment depends on tumour type, stage, the condition of the rest of the liver, and overall health, and usually combines several modalities decided by a multidisciplinary team.
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Mediastinal tumor surgery removes growths from the central chest area between the lungs, where the heart, major vessels, windpipe, and thymus sit. It treats both benign and cancerous tumors using open, VATS, or robotic approaches depending on the tumor and individual factors.
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Metastatic bone disease occurs when cancer from another part of the body spreads to the bones, most often from breast, prostate, lung, or kidney cancer. Treatment combines systemic cancer therapy, bone-targeted medicines, radiation, and sometimes surgery to control pain, prevent fractures, and protect mobility.
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Neck dissection is surgery to remove lymph nodes from the neck in people with head and neck cancer. It treats cancer that has spread to lymph nodes, prevents further spread, and helps stage the disease. Several types exist — selective, modified radical, and radical — chosen based on the cancer and individual factors.
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Ocular tumor management is the coordinated treatment of cancerous and non-cancerous tumors of the eye, eyelid, and orbit. It combines surgery, radiation, laser, cryotherapy, and systemic therapy, chosen to control the tumor while preserving the eye and useful vision wherever possible.
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Oncoplastic breast surgery combines breast cancer removal with plastic-surgery reshaping techniques in a single operation. It is offered to many women with early or moderate-stage breast cancer who want to conserve the breast while achieving a good cosmetic result. Several techniques exist; the right one depends on tumour size, breast shape, and the surgical plan.
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Oral cancer surgery removes cancer from the mouth, tongue, jaw, lips, or floor of the mouth, often along with nearby lymph nodes, and may include reconstruction to restore appearance and function. Several surgical approaches exist, and surgery is often combined with radiation or chemotherapy depending on the stage.
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Oropharyngeal cancer surgery removes tumours from the back of the throat, including the tonsils, base of tongue, and soft palate. It may use transoral robotic surgery (TORS), laser microsurgery, or an open approach, often with neck lymph node removal and follow-on radiation or chemoradiation.
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Pancreatic cancer surgery removes tumours from the pancreas and surrounding tissues, most often through the Whipple operation, distal pancreatectomy, or total pancreatectomy. It is offered when the cancer can be fully removed and is usually combined with chemotherapy. The choice of operation depends on tumour location, stage, and overall health.
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Pleural mesothelioma surgery is an operation to remove cancer from the lining of the lung, most often caused by past asbestos exposure. It is used alongside chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and sometimes radiation. Several surgical approaches exist, and the right choice depends on the stage, the tumour type, and overall fitness.
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Radical cystectomy is the surgical removal of the entire bladder, usually to treat muscle-invasive or high-risk bladder cancer. Because the bladder is removed, the surgeon also creates a new way for urine to leave the body, called urinary diversion. The choice of surgical approach and diversion type depends on the cancer, overall health, and a discussion with your surgical team.
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Radical hysterectomy is a cancer operation that removes the uterus, cervix, surrounding supporting tissues, the upper vagina, and nearby lymph nodes. It is most often used to treat early-stage cervical cancer. Several surgical approaches exist, and recovery typically unfolds over several weeks.
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Radical prostatectomy is surgery to remove the entire prostate gland, the seminal vesicles, and sometimes nearby lymph nodes, to treat prostate cancer that is confined to the prostate. It can be performed using open, laparoscopic, or robotic-assisted techniques, each with implications for recovery and functional outcomes.
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Rectal cancer surgery removes the part of the rectum affected by cancer, often alongside chemotherapy and radiotherapy. The right operation depends on tumour location, stage, and individual factors. Several approaches and techniques exist, each with different effects on bowel function and recovery.
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Retinoblastoma is a rare cancer of the retina that affects young children. Treatment is highly individualised and may combine systemic, intra-arterial or intravitreal chemotherapy, focal therapies such as laser and cryotherapy, plaque radiotherapy, and, in advanced cases, surgical removal of the eye (enucleation).
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Sentinel lymph node biopsy is a surgical staging procedure that removes the first one or two lymph nodes a tumour drains into, to check whether cancer has spread. It is used most often in breast cancer and melanoma, and helps guide decisions about further surgery, radiation, and other treatments.
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Skin cancer surgery removes cancerous skin growths and, when needed, a margin of surrounding tissue or nearby lymph nodes. Techniques include simple excision, Mohs micrographic surgery, wide local excision for melanoma, and sentinel lymph node biopsy. The right approach depends on the type, size, location, and stage of the cancer.
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Small intestine cancer surgery removes a cancerous segment of the small bowel along with nearby lymph nodes, and reconnects the healthy ends. The specific operation depends on tumor type, location, and stage. Recovery and follow-up unfold over several months and often involve a wider oncology team.
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Soft tissue sarcoma surgery removes cancerous tumours that develop in muscles, fat, blood vessels, nerves, or other connective tissues. The operation aims to remove the tumour with a margin of healthy tissue while preserving function. The right approach depends on tumour size, location, grade, and a careful multidisciplinary plan.
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Stereotactic biopsy is a precise, image-guided technique used to sample a small area of tissue identified on a mammogram, MRI, or CT scan. It is most often used for breast lesions and brain lesions that are too small or too deep to reach safely by other means. The procedure, recovery, and results timeline differ depending on the body part involved.
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Testicular cancer surgery removes the affected testicle to treat and stage cancer of the testis, most often through a radical inguinal orchiectomy. Some patients also need lymph node surgery (RPLND) or adjuvant treatment. This guide explains the surgery, recovery, fertility planning, and long-term follow-up.
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Transoral laser microsurgery (TLM) is a minimally invasive technique used to treat early-stage cancers and selected benign lesions of the larynx, pharynx, and oral cavity. A surgeon operates through the mouth using a microscope and a precision laser, often preserving voice and swallowing function without external incisions.
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Vaginal cancer surgery removes cancerous tissue from the vagina and, when needed, nearby lymph nodes or surrounding structures. Options range from local excision for small early-stage tumours to more extensive operations for advanced disease. The right approach depends on tumour stage, location, prior treatment, and a discussion with a gynecologic oncology team.
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Vulvar cancer surgery removes cancerous tissue from the vulva, the external female genital area. Depending on the size, depth, and spread of the cancer, surgery may involve a wide local excision, partial or radical vulvectomy, and assessment of the groin lymph nodes, sometimes followed by reconstruction.
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