Oncology

Cancer is a result of uncontrolled and rapid cell growth in the body. This is either because of exposure to cancerous substances or due to inherited genetic mutation. Cancer is one of the leading causes of death globally, however, there is a gradual improvement in the success rate of cancer treatment owing to growing awareness, technological advancements and innovations.

The field of medicine that deals with research, identification and treatment of cancer are known as oncology. Surgical oncology is an area of cancer care that focuses on the diagnosis, phase and treatment of cancer by surgery. Surgical oncologists can also conduct palliative surgery to help alleviate pain, improve the comfort level of a patient, and manage the symptoms and side effects associated with cancer. Whether a patient is a candidate for surgery depends on factors such as tumour type, site, size and stage of cancer as well as patient’s health concerns like age, physical fitness and other medical conditions.