What is a Surgical Oncologist?
Understanding surgical oncologists and cancer surgery specialists
A surgical oncologist is a physician who specializes in the surgical treatment of cancer. While many types of surgeons may remove tumors as part of their practice, surgical oncologists focus exclusively on cancer operations and the complex decision-making that surrounds them. Their training reflects that focus: after medical school and a five-year general surgery residency, surgical oncologists complete a two-year fellowship dedicated to cancer surgery, tumor biology, and multidisciplinary oncologic care.
Surgical oncologists treat cancers throughout the body, though many develop expertise in specific tumor types or anatomic regions. Breast cancer, melanoma, sarcomas, gastrointestinal cancers (stomach, colon, liver, pancreas), and peritoneal cancers are among the conditions they manage most often. In many cases, the surgical oncologist is the first specialist a patient sees after a cancer diagnosis, and they help determine whether surgery is the right first step or whether chemotherapy or radiation should come before an operation.
What does a surgical oncologist do?
Their role goes beyond the operating room. Surgical oncologists are trained to interpret pathology and imaging in the context of cancer staging, coordinate care with medical oncologists and radiation oncologists, and guide patients through treatment sequencing. They evaluate whether a tumor can be completely removed with clear margins, assess lymph node involvement, and determine if a patient needs neoadjuvant therapy (treatment before surgery) to shrink a tumor before resection.
In the OR, procedures range from lumpectomies and sentinel lymph node biopsies to major operations like pancreatectomies, liver resections, and cytoreductive surgery with heated intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) for cancers that have spread within the abdominal cavity. Many of these procedures now incorporate laparoscopic or robotic-assisted techniques when appropriate.
If you've received a cancer diagnosis and your care team has recommended surgery, or if you're seeking a second opinion on a treatment plan, you can find a surgical oncologist near you through our directory.
If you've been told you need cancer surgery and want a specialist dedicated to this work, chat with us to find a surgical oncologist near you.