Chapter 25 • The cancer surgeon is a key member of a multidisciplinary cancer care team. • The surgeon is frequently the “entry point” for patients who are suspected of having cancer or are newly diagnosed with cancer. • The surgeon must be prepared to communicate the results of initial biopsy pathology and staging to the patient, interpret these results in a meaningful way, and prepare the patient for the next steps in care. • To be an effective member of the “team,” the surgeon must have knowledge of the biology and natural history of the cancer to be treated. • The surgeon must be technically experienced in diagnostic procedures and operative interventions used in cancer management. • The cancer surgeon must be experienced in the preoperative and postoperative care of surgical patients with complex cases. • The surgical oncologist must have an appropriate knowledge base in medical and radiation oncology. • Patients treated in a multimodality setting and in high-volume centers have improved outcomes. • Training of the surgical oncologist must encompass the following: Etiology and genetic predispositions of cancer Environmental risk factors and natural history of specific tumors Knowledge of genomic characterization, subclassification, and current options for highly targeted therapies
Surgical Interventions in Cancer
Summary of Key Points
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