Surgical oncology is the part of surgery that deals with cancer. It's all about using surgery to treat tumours, especially cancerous ones.
As one of several ways of treating cancer, the specialty of surgical oncology has developed in stages similar to medical oncology (using drugs to treat cancer), which grew out of haematology, and radiation oncology, which grew out of radiology. The Ewing Society – now known as the Society of Surgical Oncology – was set up by surgeons who were keen to promote the field of oncology. In 2011, the American Board of Surgery gave the green light to Complex General Surgical Oncology via a specialty Board certification. The field is set to keep growing thanks to the opening of more cancer centres, as well as advanced minimally invasive techniques, palliative surgery, and neo-adjuvant treatments.
There's a lot of debate about whether surgical oncology is a medical specialty in its own right. These days, it's widely accepted that no single surgeon can be an expert in all types of malignant disease. There are currently 19 surgical oncology fellowship training programmes in the US, approved by the Society of Surgical Oncology, and this number is set to grow. While many general surgeons treat patients with malignant neoplasms, the title of 'surgical oncologist' is usually reserved for those who have completed one of the approved fellowship programmes. But this is just a matter of semantics. Many surgeons who are deeply involved in treating cancer patients may see themselves as surgical oncologists.
The most common types and forms of surgical oncology are as follows:
1. Surgery to diagnose cancer
2. Surgery to stage cancer
3. Curative surgery
4. Radical surgery
5. Surgery to debulk cancer
6. Palliative surgery
7. Supportive surgery
8. Reconstructive surgery
9. Preventive (prophylactic) surgery
Surgical oncology techniques
Newer surgical techniques are less invasive, use different types of surgical instruments, and lead to less pain and shorter recovery times. The most effective surgical oncology techniques are The following surgical techniques are available: cryosurgery, electrosurgery, laparoscopic surgery, laser surgery, Mohs surgery, radiofrequency ablation, robotic surgery and other forms of surgery. Thoracoscopic surgery is also a possibility.
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