About the Department
The Department of Surgical Oncology at the Fortis Hospitals, Bannerghatta Road provides services such as diagnostic screenings and treatment for cancer, follow up care for cancer patients in the case of both malignant and benign tumours.
This specialised division of surgery has been formed to identify, grade and then provide therapy for cancer and a number cancer-related symptoms. At the Fortis Hospitals, our trained and skilled oncologist surgeons have executed hundreds of operations over the years.
Our team of experts will discuss at length with you and your family if a surgical oncology procedure seems like a possible recommendation. The factors that determine such a scenario depends on the tumours – its type, size, location in the body, the stage and grade, along with the overall health condition of the patient. In many cases, you will find that surgical oncology has been recommended in combination with complementary treatments for cancer, for example, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, immunotherapy and targeted therapy which may be administered either before or after the surgical procedure.
With surgical oncology there is a risk of side effects. The surgical oncology team at Fortis, believes in planning in advance for such situations and works towards proactively managing any side effects that the patient may experience. In consultation with our support staff that include rehabilitation therapists, nutritionists and naturopathic clinicians, we collaborate together to improve the quality of life of our patients through physical and emotional healing.
With specialty training, the surgical oncologists at the Fortis Hospitals, Bannerghatta Road have world-class skills and expertise. Surgical oncology is a complex process in general and our team of surgeons are adept and practiced, having performed multiple such operations throughout their established careers.
Areas of Care
The Department of Surgical Oncology specialises in the following areas of care:
- Breast Cancer
- Endocrine Tumours
- Melanoma
- Sarcoma
- Gastric Cancer
- Lower gastrointestinal cancer and colorectal surgery
- Pancreas, liver, bile duct and gallbladder surgery
- Upper gastrointestinal and stomach surgery
- Neuroendocrine tumours
Our team of trained surgical oncologists will work with allied disciplines like medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, pathologists and other specialist support staff to ensure the best route of treatment for our patients.
Diagnosis & Preparation
The process of surgical oncology assists in the removal of the cancerous cells and its surrounding tissues. The procedure is recommended in combination with chemotherapy and radiation therapy for most cancer patients. In order to determine if the patient requires surgery, there will be an initial meeting between the patient, his or her family along with the surgical oncologist. The meeting is a platform to discuss the procedure and what preparations need to made prior to performing the operation.
There may be multiple reasons to perform a surgical oncology such as a biopsy if certain malignant cells are suspected in a particular organ in the body. It may also be used for purposes like removing a tumour from organs like the tongue, throat, lung, stomach, intestines, etc. In the majority of cases, surgeons will possibly remove the tumour and the sample required for biopsy during the same operation.
The diagnosis and the exact location on the body, where the surgical procedure is going to be performed, directly determines the impact of the process. Prior to performing the surgical oncological procedure, the patient has to undergo a number of diagnostics screenings and tests. This will enable the specialist to have a comprehensive understanding of the patient’s current health condition upon which he can make an informed decision about combination treatments with the surgery like radiation and chemotherapy.
The process of surgery is physical but it also requires a lot of mental preparation that will help the patient to cope with post-operative pain and possibly a slow rate of recovery. There may also be complications for which the patient must be psychologically prepared.
Surgical Procedure
The process of surgical oncology is similar in some ways to that of a conventional surgery. Cancer surgeons during the procedure will use small, thin knives otherwise known as scalpels in combination with other sharp tools to make incisions on your body. You will be sedated. However, depending on the location of the surgery you may be given either general or full anaesthesia or it could be local anaesthesia.
Surgical oncology can also be performed without having to make incisions with scalpels. Some of these procedures include:
- Cryosurgery:
During this procedure, it uses liquid nitrogen or argon gas to kill the abnormal cancerous tissue. This process may only be used for treating skin cancer if it is still in the early stages, retinoblastoma and if there are any precancerous skin or cervix growths.
- Lasers:
Using high powered light beams, the lasers are able to focus precisely on that tiny area that needs to be cut through. The process is usually used in treating tumour growths on the surface or the inside lining of internal organs including basal cell carcinoma, cervical, cervical, vaginal, esophageal, and non-small cell lung cancer. The procedure can help to cut the tissue, and destroy tumours that may get malignant in the future.
Through prior diagnostic screenings and tests, along with depending on the type of cancer that is under treatment, surgical oncology may be used for:
- Removing the entire tumour that is contained is a specific area in the body.
- Partly remove the tumour through the process of debulking. This is done as removal of the entire tumour may damage a body organ.
- If the cancer is at an advanced stage, surgery may be used to make some of persistent cancer symptoms easier to bear for the patient.
Types of Surgery
Surgical oncology includes many ways of performing surgeries. The determining factors are the purpose of the surgery, the location on the body and the amount of tissue removal required during the procedure. The patient’s preferences are also taken into consideration.
Surgical oncologists may use open or minimally invasive procedures for surgery.
- Open Surgery:
During an open surgery, the surgical oncologist will make one large incision in order to remove the tumour. Along with that, he may collect some healthy tissue and nearby lymph node samples.
- Minimally Invasive Surgery:
During a minimally invasive surgery, tiny incisions are made by the surgeon in place of a single large cut. A thin, long tube known as a laparoscope with a camera attached to it, is inserted through this small incision. The inside of the body is projected on the monitor via the camera feed. This permits the surgeon to execute the operation. Special tools are used during minimally invasive procedures that helps the surgeon to remove the tumour along with collecting some healthy tissue sample. The patient also recovers faster as the incisions are small and heals much more quickly.
Our Team that cares
Patients who have undergone treatment through surgical oncological procedures are benefitted by having access to multidisciplinary care teams and from the latest that medical technology.
At Fortis Hospitals, we understand that no two patients are alike. Therefore, why should the treatment be the same, in that case. Our team of specialist surgeons along with a brilliant support staff will approach your cancer care from a personalised perspective. We believe in collaborating with our partners in medicine like your referring physician, medical oncologists, radiation oncologist and experts from other medical disciplines to draw up your treatment plan that will address your health condition to make you better in the best way possible.
