Sometimes cancer has to be surgically removed from the body to completely eradicate the disease. Different types of surgeons are specialized to address the tumors in different parts of the body. For example, oncological general surgeons remove cancer from internal organs and breasts; gynecologic oncologists work on malignancies of the female reproductive system; and head and neck surgeons treat cancer of paranasal sinuses, upper airways, and neck area.
Oncological surgeons work in close coordination with other members of the oncological care team to adjust the timing of surgery that would best fit to patient’s treatment plan. Often chemotherapy or radiotherapy has to be administered after the surgery – called adjuvant treatment - or before the surgery – called neoadjuvant treatment. To collaborate the effort of all these different specialists, regular meetings called tumor boards or oncology boards are held regularly to discuss each patient’s treatment plan.