Best Hospitals In India for Surgical Oncology

There are various challenges faced by surgical oncologists in treating advanced stage cancers are given below:

• Late Diagnosis
• Complex Surgeries
• Resistance to Treatment
• Patient Health
• Post-Surgical Complications
• Psychological Impact

The most common cancer treated through surgical oncology are:

• Breast Cancer: Most patients are treated through mastectomy or lumpectomy. Outcomes generally improve with early detection and less invasive procedures like breast-conserving surgery.
• Lung Cancer: More localized cancers are treated with surgical removal of tumors, usually via lobectomy or pneumonectomy. Success rates are higher in earlier stages, but advanced stages may present greater challenges.
• Colorectal Cancer: Surgery to remove tumors or affected parts of the colon, followed closely by chemotherapy, leads to better survival rates, particularly when performed at early stages.
• Gastrointestinal Cancer: Surgical resection of tumors in the stomach or esophagus offers the greatest chance for a cure if undertaken at an early stage. However, advanced stages require more complex techniques.
• Head and Neck Cancer: Resection or neck dissection is the most common approach. Success rates are higher in early-stage disease, but they decrease as the disease progresses.
• Ovarian Cancer: Debulking surgery, with or without chemotherapy, improves outcomes when performed at early stages.

The latest advancement in minimally invasive surgical oncology techniques include:

Robotic-Assisted Surgery: This technique significantly reduces complication rates and accelerates recovery through small incisions, allowing complex tumor removal with greater precision.

Laparoscopic Surgery: Performed through small incisions, this procedure removes tumors, leaving minimal scars and promoting faster recovery. It is most commonly applied in colorectal and gastrointestinal cancers.

Image-Guided Surgery: This technique uses three-dimensional imaging before, during, and after surgery for precise tumor removal, minimizing the risk of leaving behind any cancerous tissue.

Endoscopy: Tumor removal or biopsy is performed through natural body openings, avoiding large incisions, especially in gastrointestinal cancer cases.

Cryosurgery and Laser Surgery: These methods destroy tumors using extremely low temperatures or focused laser beams, offering minimally invasive treatments for cancers such as skin, lung, or non-metastatic prostate cancer.

Targeted and Molecular Therapies: When combined with surgery, these therapies provide enhanced precision for cancers with specific genetic markers, further improving treatment outcomes.

Surgical oncology success rates in India range from 70% to 90%, depending on the cancer type and stage, with outcomes comparable to leading global standards. India offers these high success rates at 60-70% lower costs than Western countries, while maintaining quality care.