Surgical oncology is a specialization of medical oncology engaging surgeons in both the management and cure of cancer. Traditionally, surgeons have treated cancer by resection and radical surgery of tumors, leaving the management of the disease and the patient to other medical specialists.

Not all types of cancerous tumors can be managed by surgery, and the removal of tumors does not always lead to a cure. An oncological surgeon must determine if risks inherent in the excision of the tumor are justified given the possible results. These risks and benefits are considered with the specialist’s knowledge about the management of the patient’s condition using procedures which are more conservative than surgical intervention.

Procedure information
The practice of surgical oncology follows principles that guide the cure of a patient’s cancer, palliative care, and the patient’s quality of life. The benefits of surgical oncology are most evident in the excision of local tumors, in the removal of regional lymph nodes, in the handling of tumor recurrences, and, more rarely, in the surgical resection of metastatic occurrences.

Recovery time
After the surgical procedure, the side effects that the patient may experience and aspects of recovery are determined by the area of the body where the surgery was performed – and also the patient’s overall general health. Some surgical procedures may alter the function of the gastrointestinal or the urinary systems and full recovery normally takes time and requires patience.

Surgery that involves the removal of the colon, the intestines, or the urinary tract will necessitate the involvement of a stomal therapist in the use of appliances for urine and fecal elimination. As a result of many surgical oncology procedures, basic functions such as breathing, drinking, eating, mobility, neurological ability, urinating, and defecating may be affected in the short-term. The necessary resources for dealing with these deficits must be organized before surgery.