Surgical Oncology

Surgical Oncology focuses on treating cancer using advanced precision surgery—incorporating robotic and minimally invasive techniques—to achieve optimal tumor removal while preserving form and function.

The Surgical Oncology department at the Cancer Institute (WIA), Chennai, is a cornerstone of the institute's comprehensive cancer care. Established as part of India's pioneering comprehensive cancer center since 1954, surgical oncology here specializes in the surgical management of solid tumours including breast, thoracic, gastrointestinal tract, head and neck, gynecological sites, urological systems, musculo-skeletal and Neuro-oncology. It incorporates advanced minimally invasive and robotic approaches where appropriate, while emphasizing preservation of form and function to optimize patient quality of life. Surgical oncology is critically important because it provides the most effective means of local control and potential cure for many early and locally advanced solid cancers, significantly improving survival rates and offering symptom relief in advanced cases.

At the Cancer Institute (WIA), the department supports holistic patient care through seamless multidisciplinary collaboration with medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, pathologists, radiologists, and palliative care teams. This integrated, patient-centered model ensures personalized treatment plans, reduced complications, faster recovery, and enhanced outcomes, all delivered with the institute's ethos of ethical, compassionate, and accessible care—particularly serving a large volume of patients from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds.

The department's unique strengths lie in its status as a national leader in training and innovation: it introduced one of India's first MCh programs in Surgical Oncology in 1984 and continues as a premier training hub, with a large faculty mentoring 9 residents every year.