THIS PAGE WAS UPDATED ON APRIL 20, 2022.

Oncologists use a number of techniques to diagnose and treat cancer. Medical oncology experts may use chemotherapy drugs to attack the cancer, while radiation oncology relies on various forms of radiation therapy. Hematology-oncology treats blood cancers. Dermatology, interventional pulmonology and other fields of medicine may also be involved in the process. One type of oncologist that cancer patients may see is a surgical oncologist.

Surgical oncology is the field of cancer care that focuses on surgery to diagnose, stage and treat cancer, and to manage some cancer-related symptoms.

Whether a patient is a candidate for cancer surgery depends on factors such as the type, size, location, grade and stage of the tumor. Other general health factors are also taken into account, such as the patient's age, physical fitness and any coexisting health conditions he or she may have.

Surgical oncologists work with a multidisciplinary team of physicians and clinicians to combine surgery with other therapies and procedures required by the patient’s comprehensive treatment plan.

Surgical oncologists take the time to discuss each patient's diagnosis and treatment options with him or her, addressing any questions or concerns. The surgical oncologists work with the other team members—including nutritionists, rehabilitation therapists and naturopathic providers—to anticipate and manage side effects of surgery.

Someone with or suspected of having cancer may undergo surgery for many reasons. Surgical oncology may be used to:

• Diagnose cancer (diagnostic surgery or biopsy)
• Remove a tumor or a portion of the cancer (curative or debulking surgery)
• Determine where the cancer is located, whether it has spread and if it is affecting the functions of other organs (staging surgery)
• Remove body tissue that may become cancerous (preventive surgery)
• Support other types of treatment, such as installing an infusion port (supportive surgery)
• Restore the body's appearance or function (reconstructive surgery)
• Relieve side effects (palliative surgery)

The two primary types of cancer surgery are open surgery and minimally invasive surgery.

In open surgery, the surgical oncologist makes a large incision, usually to remove all or part of a tumor and some of the surrounding healthy tissue (margins).

Minimally invasive surgical techniques may involve the techniques listed below.

Laparoscopy: A surgical oncologist makes a few small incisions and inserts a laparoscope—a thin tube with a tiny camera attached to it—into one of the incisions to capture an interior image, while inserting surgical tools into the other incisions to excise malignancies and surrounding tissue.

Laser surgery: The surgeon uses a narrow beam of high-intensity light to remove a tumor.

Cryosurgery: The surgeon uses liquid nitrogen to freeze and kill cancer cells.

Non-surgical treatments may take place before surgery (neoadjuvant therapy) or after surgery (adjuvant therapy) to help prevent cancer growth, metastasis or recurrence. The treatments may include chemotherapy, radiation therapy or hormone therapy.